"So that's one thing I would encourage the [Australian] government to do, is be transparent as possible on what the plans ahead are so industry can can respond and be ready," Northrop Grumman executive Tom Wears said.
The Defense Department here, in an unusual move, announced that Lockheed had been directly awarded the contract for what is expected to be a $4 billion AUD ($2.86 billon) commitment to Australia’s first sovereign military satellite program.
Lockheed Australia's CEO, Warren McDonald sees Air 6500 as part of what he called a "massive recapitalization" of Australia's military.