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| LAND 17 | |
|---|---|
| Name | LAND 17 |
| Type | Defence acquisition program |
| Country | Australia |
| Status | Completed/Operational |
| Commenced | 2000s |
| Completed | 2010s |
| Contractor | Various prime contractors and subcontractors |
| Outcome | Integrated land combat systems and materiel upgrades |
LAND 17
LAND 17 was a major Australian Defence Force acquisition program focused on integrated land combat systems and vehicle upgrades. It coordinated capability development across the Australian Army, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, and allied suppliers to modernize armored, reconnaissance, and command systems. The program linked procurement, testing, and industry partnerships with operational units and doctrine development.
LAND 17 emerged from strategic reviews and capability assessments conducted by the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Defence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Influences included lessons from the Gulf War, East Timor intervention, and peacekeeping operations with the United Nations and INTERFET. The program reflected interoperability priorities aligned with partners such as the United States Department of Defense, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and regional exercises with ANZUS and Five Eyes intelligence-sharing considerations. Contributing advisory and research input came from institutions including the Defence Science and Technology Group, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and universities engaged in defence studies.
LAND 17 aimed to deliver improved lethality, survivability, mobility, and situational awareness for Australian land forces. Key objectives referenced interoperability with platforms fielded by the United States Army, the British Army, and the Canadian Army; enhanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance commonality with NATO allies such as Germany and France; and lifecycle support frameworks comparable to programs managed by the Swedish Armed Forces and Netherlands Ministry of Defence. Scope included upgrades to armored personnel carriers, reconnaissance platforms, and integration of digital battle management systems used by formations like the 1st Brigade (Australia) and the 3rd Brigade (Australia).
Procurement under LAND 17 followed Australian Defence procurement frameworks administered by the Defence Materiel Organisation and successor entities. Competitive tenders attracted multinational primes and local industry, including firms with portfolios spanning work for the Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE Systems, and Rheinmetall Defence. Contracting phases referenced Australian Commonwealth procurement regulations and cooperative programs with the United States Department of Defense via Foreign Military Sales and bilateral Memoranda of Understanding with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Oversight involved parliamentary scrutiny by the Parliament of Australia and audit functions similar to reviews by the Australian National Audit Office.
Technical requirements emphasized modular armor solutions, remote weapon stations, electronic architecture aligned with standards used by NATO, and integration of battlefield management systems from suppliers such as Thales Group, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies. Capabilities sought included improved sensor suites akin to those on platforms by General Dynamics Land Systems, cross-platform data links compatible with systems fielded by Israel Defense Forces and South African National Defence Force, and powertrain enhancements drawing on civil‑military technology transfer with firms like Cummins Inc. and MTU Friedrichshafen. Communications and cryptographic interoperability referenced standards employed by Signals Directorate partners and aligned with doctrine from the Australian Army's Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre.
The program engaged a mix of domestic and international primes and subcontractors. Australian defence manufacturers and systems integrators worked alongside global primes including BAE Systems Land UK, Rheinmetall AG, Oshkosh Corporation, and Lockheed Martin Australia. Electronic and sensor integration drew on capabilities from Thales Australia, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Raytheon Australia; propulsion and mobility upgrades involved suppliers such as Perkins Engines Company Limited and Allison Transmission. Small and medium enterprises in the Australian supply chain partnered with research organisations like the CSIRO and universities including the University of New South Wales and Monash University for component testing and human factors studies.
Delivery schedules coordinated with regimental readiness cycles for units such as the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and armoured formations including the 1st Armoured Regiment (Australia). Trials took place at ranges and test centres used by the Australian Army and partner institutions, including facilities associated with the Defence Science and Technology Group and joint training areas shared with visiting units from the United States Marine Corps and British Army. Testing regimes evaluated ballistic protection to standards comparable with NATO STANAG thresholds, automotive performance in Australian operational environments from the Pilbara to the Top End, and electronic interoperability in exercises like Talisman Sabre and Pitch Black.
Operational implementation integrated upgraded platforms into brigade structures and updated doctrine for combined-arms manoeuvre in contingencies and expeditionary operations. The program influenced training at institutions such as the Royal Military College, Duntroon and logistics practices overseen by the Australian Army Logistics Command. Impact included enhanced expeditionary interoperability with partners in exercises under ANZAC frameworks and coalition operations with the United States Pacific Command and Combined Joint Task Force constructs. LAND 17 upgrades contributed to sustainment strategies and informed follow-on acquisition decisions involving armoured fleet modernisation and digital battle management investments observed in subsequent Australian procurement initiatives.
Category:Australian military procurement