11 October 2022

Boeing completes development of final capabilities under Project Currawong

by Oishee Majumdar

The headquarters on the move (pictured above) is one of the final components of Project Currawong. It is a mobile version of the integrated battlefield telecommunications network system, integrated into the Australian Army's Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle. (Boeing)

Boeing has completed development of the final components of the integrated battlefield telecommunications network (I-BTN) system that it has been developing for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the Australian Department of Defence's (DoD's) Joint Project (JP) 2072 Phase 2B, also known as Project Currawong.

A spokesperson for Boeing told Janes on 11 October that a majority of the components have been delivered to the ADF.

The delivery of the remaining components will be completed in 2023, the spokesperson added.

The I-BTN system – being developed since 2015 – “comprises all of the technology and hardware needed to enable deployed forces to securely connect to one another and headquarters from anywhere in the world, anytime”, Boeing said in a media release on 5 October.

With the initial acquisition programme under JP 2072 Phase 2B “mostly completed”, Boeing is now focusing on “further advancement” of the I-BTN system to ensure it remains relevant in an evolving threat environment, and “through application to other platforms to make it a true joint force architecture”, the company said.

This has been made possible by the Australian government's decision to continue funding the evolution and development of the I-BTN system until 2026 through a multi-year ‘Capability Enhancement Program', Tom Minge, Boeing's Currawong programme manager said.

Boeing has completed development of the final components of the integrated battlefield telecommunica...

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