The Department of Defence has paused its $1.44 billion battle management system project with Elbit Systems after both current and future versions of the software failed to meet technical standards. The suspension has forced the department to adopt an interim software solution from Danish software provider Systematic, which is expected to be used for up to the next three years.
At senate estimates on Wednesday, chief of army Rick Burr confirmed Defence had “paused the use [of the software] in operational units” after weeks of speculation about the contract.
Australian Defence Magazine and the ABC both reported in April that Defence had told Elbit that it would stop using the deployed software version of the battle management system in May. The command and control system – previous versions of which have been in place since 2010 – was to be delivered under Land 200 phase two in a bid to better connect soldiers in the field....MORE
