Land4140 Submission 3 Capability Challenge

The LC4 Program seeks innovative, interoperable, and scalable solutions to strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s communications, information networks, and decision-making capabilities in highly contested and degraded tactical environments. Across three key focus areas, Defence aims to: (1) enhance network resilience by developing self-healing, adaptive, and secure communications that can operate under persistent electronic warfare and cyber threats; (2) modernise tactical communications to enable seamless, secure, low-latency exchange of voice, data, and video across dismounted, mounted, and headquarters units, ensuring integration with coalition partners; and (3) deliver decision advantage at the tactical edge by harnessing AI, machine learning, advanced edge computing, and adaptive ISR to support real-time data fusion and mission-tailored visualisation in austere conditions. Industry is invited to propose technologies that address challenges such as resilient mesh networking, anti-jamming, spectrum agility, quantum-resilient cryptography, software-defined radios, 5G/6G-enabled systems, lightweight edge communications, human-machine teaming, and distributed sensor integration to support future-ready, multi-domain operations.
This multi-domain approach supports Defence’s commitment to accelerating capability delivery, enhancing interoperability with allies, and strengthening Australia’s sovereign industrial base.
2. STATEMENT OF DEFENCE NEEDS 
Focus Area 1: Enhancing Network Resilience in Contested Environments
Challenge Statement:
Defence seeks innovative solutions to enhance the resilience of communications and information networks operating in highly contested and degraded tactical environments. Proposed technologies must enable mission assurance through self-healing, adaptive routing, multi-path redundancy, low probability of detection/interception (LPD/LPI), and the ability to function under persistent electronic warfare and cyber threat conditions. 
Key Focus Areas: 
• Resilient mesh networking and dynamic routing protocols 
• Anti-jamming and spectrum agility tools 
• Quantum-resilient cryptography 
• Autonomous detection and response to network compromise 
• Integration of SATCOM, terrestrial, and near-space communications for redundancy next generation networks, next generation bearers and PNT alternatives
Focus Area 2: Modernisation of Tactical Communications 
Challenge Statement: 
Defence is exploring solutions to modernise tactical communication systems for dismounted, mounted, and headquarter units. The aim is to ensure seamless, secure, low-latency voice, data, and video exchange in bandwidth-constrained and mobile tactical environments. Industry is invited to propose interoperable and scalable communication technologies that support multi-domain operations and integration with coalition partners. 
Key Focus Areas: 
• Software-defined radios (SDRs) with modular, reprogrammable waveforms 
• 5G/6G-enabled tactical communication solutions 
• Lightweight and ruggedized edge communications kits 
• Multilevel secure communications (MLS) for coalition interoperability 
• Unified communications platforms with real-time translation and media-sharing 
Broadcast Communications
Focus Area 3: Decision Advantage at the Tactical Edge in Contested Environments
Challenge Statement: 
Defence is seeking innovative capabilities that enable commanders and warfighters at the tactical edge to gain decision advantage despite data overload, contested information environments, and limited connectivity. Solutions should support real-time data fusion, local AI/ML processing, and intuitive decision support in austere conditions. 
Key Focus Areas: 
• AI-powered situational awareness and predictive analytics at the edge 
• Edge compute devices for local data processing and inference 
• Human-machine augmentation at the tactical edge. 
• Distributed sensor integration and adaptive ISR platforms 
• User-centric interfaces and mission-tailored visualisation tools 
• Next generation networks, next generation bearers and PNT alternatives