The Royal Australian Air Force has awarded Fujitsu an AU$29.8 million (US$19.7m) contract for the IT systems necessary for its new fleet of aircraft.

As reported by ITNews, Fujitsu will provide integration and support services between October 1, 2024 and December 31, 2026, as part of the contract which centers around project AIR555.

Royal Australian Air Force
– Royal Australian Air Force via FaceBook

AIR555 is an AU$2.46 billion scheme described as a "critical enabler for the Australian Defence Force's fifth generation warfighting platforms."

As part of AIR555, the airforce ordered four Peregrine Gulfstream G550 aircraft in 2019, and the Air Force aims to develop an 'airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare' (ISREW) capability for which Fujitsu will handle the IT.

Fujitsu's contract will span the design, integration, security accreditation, testing, and launch of the aircraft's IT. This will include integration into networks, mission system security accreditation, facilities IT design, and capability support.

ITNews further reports that Fujitsu will offer in-project support at the current operating facility in an RAAF base north of Adelaide.

In August, the Australian Department of Defence announced it would be trialing containerized data centers. The data centers would be housed in shipping containers and were described as "ICT mobility systems" that would include servers, UPSs, routers, switches, and cabling.

Earlier this month, Australia's former digital minister proposed a controversial data center project valued at AU$500 million (US$335.16m) that would house top secret information and be located next to the HMAS Harman Military Base in Canberra, Australia. The project has received criticism due to the role the minister played in data sovereignty regulations that would directly benefit this project.