PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA
Staff to go as Jindalee radar project is completed and parent companies refocus
Lockheed Martin Australia and Tenix Defence Systems are to split their RLM Systems joint venture into three, with effect from April. Meanwhile, RLM has cut 200 of its 500-strong workforce as it prepares to hand over the completed Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) to the Australian Defence Force within the next few weeks.
The three new companies will be known as RLM Systems, RLM Management and RLM Technologies. RLM Systems will focus on Australian military aerospace and retain the lucrative prime contract for software support on the Royal Australian Air Force's Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orions. RLM Management, with around 200 staff, will provide in-service support for the JORN. RLM Technologies will take over RLM Systems contracts in the command, control, communications and intelligence sectors, including the classified Project Blueshift electronic-warfare system.
The Australian Department of Defence will soon finish plans for the restructure of the domestic military systems integration sector, including CSC Australia, Saab Systems Australia and BAE Systems Australia.
The RLM joint venture arrangement was set up in 1997 and extended in 2001 after an unsuccessful attempt by Tenix to acquire Lockheed Martin's interests in the country. Relationships between the two parent firms have frequently been tense because of competing interests in the Australian market.
Source: Flight International
