Lockheed Martin And Shoal Group Boost Australia’s Sovereign Space Industry Capability With Teaming Agreement For JP9102

11 October, 2021

Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA) has announced that Shoal Group, a leader in model-based systems engineering, will be part of its JP9102 team. Unifying the strengths of both organisations will position the team as the partner of choice for delivering a next-generation military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) system. The teaming also reinforces Lockheed Martin’s long-standing commitment to the development of Australia’s space industry – now formally designated by Defence as a Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority.

LMA’s JP9102 solution is uniquely designed for operational superiority over current systems in the industry. It not only delivers unparalleled coverage, capacity and resilience, but also extensibility on an expedited schedule to meet Defence’s unique strategic and capability requirements for satellite communications.  

Building Gold Standard Partnerships

With deep experience across many of Defence’s biggest and most complex capability acquisition and sustainment projects, Adelaide-based Shoal Group will provide critical expertise to Lockheed Martin Australia’s JP9102 solution throughout each stage of the project.

“As a sovereign capability partner on various Defence programs, Lockheed Martin Australia has long recognised that Shoal Group punches above its weight in the complex world of model-based system engineering,” said David Ball, Space Regional Director, Lockheed Martin Australia. “This teaming agreement combines Shoal Group’s expertise and Lockheed Martin Australia’s optimal solution for a resilient, operationally superior military satellite system.”

“The multi-award-winning team at Shoal Group brings unmatched expertise in the use of digital design tools and analytics that will support us in minimising risks and maximising schedule assurance. This teaming builds on Lockheed Martin’s proven record of superior military satellite communications solutions and will ensure the development of a sovereign MILSATCOM system that will be defined by its resilience and operational superiority,” he said.

Early risk mitigation activities have been underway since mid-2020 and have so far included capability definition, proposal development, systems design, integration management, and supply chain strategy development.

Shoal Group’s longer-term follow-on support to Lockheed Martin Australia for JP9102 will encompass work on the development of systems engineering modelling and management, key project reviews, milestones, and modelling, simulation, and analysis.

“Our partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia reflects the trust, respect and complementary skillsets needed on a project of this scale and importance. It builds on a legacy of successful multi-domain cooperation in everything from undersea warfare to Integrated Air and Missile Defence and now space-based communications,” said Shaun Wilson, Founder and Head of Business Development for Shoal Group.

“Shoal Group specialises in engineering solutions for complex systems and by partnering with Lockheed Martin Australia in the delivery of a ‘world’s best’ sovereign satellite communications system we see the exponential potential for our business in terms of space systems capability development and long-term growth,” adds Wilson.

As Lockheed Martin Australia continues to develop a first-class team for JP9102, this agreement follows another announcement with Canberra-based communications networks and electromagnetic spectrum operations technology leader Clearbox Systems. Its successful integration of their Foresight ESM software application will minimise technical risk and maximise technical readiness to assure execution of the project on schedule and budget.