Australian Navy getting AUD 600 million IT upgrade

The Australian government is starting a major overhaul of the Royal Australian Navy’s IT equipment.

The navy’s computer networks are to be upgraded through an AUD 6000 million project which will modernize the Fleet Information Environment (FIE).

“The FIE consists of both classified and unclassified computer networks which are used throughout the fleet,” said Australian defense minister Christopher Pyne.

These networks can exchange information within the ship or externally using radio and satellite connections.

This is the first step towards rolling out contemporary computer systems to the fleet over the next decade, it was noted. The current FIE has supported navy’s deployed computer network requirements for over a decade.

Defense industry minister Linda Reynolds said Australian industry would be approached to provide innovative solutions.