The Australian government has given the initial approval for the LAND 200 Phase 3 Battlefield Command Systems (BCS) project.
The next-generation BCS will improve the Australian Army’s tactical communication networks and battle management systems, resulting in better decision-making within the army and between the military’s land, sea, air, space, and cyber elements.
It also intends to improve the service’s interoperability with joint, allied, and coalition forces.
Next-Gen BCS
The project comprises a battle management system and a tactical communications network.
The battle management system includes a “digital planning and monitoring system with a battle map displaying combated related data including overlays, orders, messages, and blue and red force tracks.”
Meanwhile, the tactical communications network includes “mobile, highly secure, communications infrastructure that provides voice and data distribution of the Battle Management System and other combat systems such as the Army Field Artillery Tactical Data System.”
Over $1 Billion Project
The LAND 200 has been operational in the military since 2011.
The estimated 1 to 2 billion Australian dollars ($683 million to $1.36 billion) Phase 3 project has an estimated annual sustainment cost of 6 to 90 million Australian dollars ($41 to 61 million) over 15 years.
The government will issue an open tender for an integration partner for the project later this year.
