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• LAND 75 Phase 4 Battlefield Command Support System

Phase 4 Battlefield Command Support System

Phase Scope

Phase 4 aims to continue the roll-out of, and provide enhancement to, the Australian Army’s BMS procured under Phase 3.4. Phase 4 is intended to deliver the BMS to two Brigades, further elements of Special Forces and RAAF, whilst providing updates to the pre-existing fleet to maintain commonality. Phase 4 is expected to fund major software releases to enhance BCSS with a focus on enhancement and interoperability up to the Joint level.

The delivery and final definition of later phases of this project is highly dependent on the direction and decision of the previous phases and supporting projects. Later phases of this program are likely to align with the appropriate phases of JP 2072.

Background

LAND 75 is a multi phased proposal to provide the Australian Army with a BMS and BCSS. These systems allow the transfer, processing and management of tactical level information necessary for the conduct and control of land operations.

Others phases include:

• Phases 1 and 2 (complete) were studies conducted throughout the 1980s under the auspices of the (then) Australian Army Tactical Command and Control System (AUSTCCS) project;
• Phase 3.1 (complete) delivered the first iteration of BCSS under a contract with CelsiusTech Australia;
• Phase 3.2 (largely complete) moved BCSS from Unix to NT technology and delivered the NT based BCSS to the Army’s 1st Brigade;
• Phase 3.3 (largely complete) simplified the user interface of BCSS through a contract with Saab Systems Australia (formerly CelsiusTech Australia). To simplify the Phase 3.3 deliverables, responsibility for development of a Special Forces command support capability was transferred to JP 2030 – Joint Command Support Environment;
• Phase 3.3B (in progress) continues to enhance the functionality, stability and interoperability of BCSS and roll-out the system within the Australian Regular Army; and
• Phase 3.4 (in progress) will provide further development of the Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS) and acquire an initial Battle Management System (BMS) capability to equip up to a Brigade sized force.

Australian Industry Opportunities

Acquisition

It is anticipated that opportunities exist for Australian industry to provide BMS ancillary hardware and to integrate and install the equipment into Defence’s A and B vehicle fleets. Opportunities for BMS software development are limited as the ADF is seeking Military- or Commercial-off-the-Shelf (MOTS or COTS) solutions. Included as part of the tender evaluation is a comprehensive Offer Definition Activity with the primary aim of reducing risk.

BCSS development continues to provide opportunity for application development and implementation.

Through‑life Support

Through life support is a key aspect of the BMS acquisition. There is a preference for systems to be supported and maintained in Australia. BCSS development continues to provide opportunity to Australian industry for its support and maintenance.

Industry Capabilities and Activities

Capabilities and related activities that may provide opportunities for Australian industry in these phases include:

Phase 4	Capability
Activity	Armoured Vehicles	Support of Mission & Safety Critical Software	System Assurance Capabilities (H’ware & S’ware)	Systems Integration (High End, System of Systems)	Facilities & Infrastructure
Design		D
Education / Training		D
In-Service / Through-life Support		D
Logistics Support		D
Project Manage		D
Refurbish / Upgrade	D
Repair and Maintain		D
Software Development / Support				D
Systems Integration			D		D
Test and Evaluate			D

Acquisition Category (ACAT)

Phase 4

ACAT Attribute	Complexity Level Assessment
Acquisition Cost	Level 3 Moderate $100m-$500m (Towards the upper end of the band)
Project Management Complexity	Level 2 High
Schedule	Level 2 High
Technical Difficulty	Level 2 High
Operation and Support	Level 3 Moderate
Commercial	Level 3 Moderate

The ACAT Level assessed for this Phase is ACAT II.

Planned Schedule Highlights

First Pass Approval	Phase 4	FY 2011-12 to FY 2012-13
Year-of-Decision	Phase 4	FY 2013-14 to FY 2015-16
Initial Operating Capability	Phase 4	2016 to 2018

Points of Contact

Phase:	Capability Staff:	Defence Materiel Organisation:
Phase 4	Staff Officer LAND 75 (02) 6265 7809	Project Manager LAND 75 (02) 6266 7432

Project Website: www.defence.gov.au/dmo/esd/land75/index.cfm