Industry must be partner to ADF, not just a supplier

The ADF is moving to a focused force that can deny potential adversaries. This shift requires an agile and accomplished defence industry that can deliver hardware, infrastructure and operational support at scale and with speed.

BAE Systems Australia is upgrading the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN).

Australia’s strategic environment is more complex than ever. Rapid technological advancements, heightened regional competition and evolving security threats demand a decisive, co-ordinated response.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is undergoing a fundamental transformation, moving to a focused force that can deny potential adversaries the ability to coerce and project power against us. This shift requires an agile and accomplished defence industry that can deliver hardware, infrastructure and operational support at scale and with speed. With more than 70 years of local experience, BAE Systems Australia knows our shared success hinges on a trusted and dynamic partnership with the ADF. We are proud to have built this relationship, and our mission is to meet the changing needs of the ADF and our allied nations, so they have the necessary capability to deploy when and where needed.

An integral part of that focused force is the ability for the RAAF to sustainably generate and deliver highly effective air power with agility, asymmetry and depth. We help to meet the operational needs of the RAAF by supporting their critical fast-jet combat and training assets in the F-35 Lightning II and Hawk Lead-in Fighter. We are committed to delivering sovereign long-term maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade activities for both fleets in lockstep with Defence, industry and local supply chains.

More than ever, industry must be a trusted partner, not just a supplier. This is about building and sustaining world-leading technology that provides Australia with an asymmetric advantage. A shining example of this is the Jindalee Operational Radar Network. More than 40 years on from its initial concept, JORN sits at the cutting edge of wide-area surveillance and is recognised as the world’s best. It is a 98 per cent Australian-designed and sustained system, having cultivated a thriving high-frequency radar industry that delivers both strategic and economic value.

Andrew Gresham is managing director of defence delivery at BAE Systems Australia.

JORN is more than just a radar, it is a sovereign innovation that provides early warning and surveillance at ranges up to 3000km, and can monitor Australia’s vast northern and western approaches. Unlike traditional radar systems, JORN bounces high-frequency signals off the ionosphere to detect aircraft and ships well beyond direct line of sight. JORN is not an off-the-shelf solution; it is a national investment that proves the value of long-term collaboration and the nurturing of homegrown talent.

We have played a central role in the development of this crucial surveillance tool from the start, and work closely with the Defence Science and Technology Group and the RAAF to operate and enhance the network’s unique capability. Additionally, we provide deeper maintenance for the majority of JORN network hardware, ensuring its continued functionality and effectiveness.

The success of JORN highlights the broader role of industry in supporting the ADF through sovereign capability development. We must maintain the research, manufacturing and supply chain resilience to sustain these systems. It has also established opportunities for high-frequency surveillance technology to be exported to markets including the US.

Defence must be able to trust us to deliver when it matters most. It must trust that we will innovate and adapt, and help build a defence force capable of keeping Australia resilient, secure and at the forefront of global defence technology.

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Andrew Gresham is managing director of defence delivery at BAE Systems Australia.