Australia’s Department of Defence is investing A$2.4 billion over six years in Project Air 6500 to deliver a Joint Air Battle Management System linking Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning aircraft with Navy Hobart-class destroyers and the Army’s future medium-range ground-based air defence capability. The Lockheed Martin Australia-led programme will provide the command-and-control backbone for the Australian Defence Force’s integrated air and missile defence network.
JABMS will replace the existing Air Battle Management System and modernise air surveillance and control functions. It is designed to connect sensors, weapons systems and decision-makers across the maritime, land, air, space and cyber domains, providing a common operating picture for faster and more coordinated responses to air and missile threats.
The investment covers the replacement of legacy command-and-control systems, major facilities at RAAF Base Darwin, deployable vehicle fleets, sustainment of previously delivered capabilities and integration of emerging air- and missile-defence systems. The Army’s medium-range ground-based air defence capability is being developed under Project Land 6504.
The programme is being delivered through Defence’s strategic partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia, with a focus on developing and retaining integrated air- and missile-defence expertise in Australia. The funding reflects priorities in the 2026 National Defence Strategy, which identifies missile defence as a critical requirement amid the spread of advanced missile technology and increasing strategic competition.