The Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35 fighter aircraft flies in formation with US F-35 and F-16. Credit: Defence, Commonwealth of Australia.

Northrop Grumman has received a contract to support the development of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Joint Data Network.

Awarded by the Australian Defence Force Tactical Data Link Authority (ADFTA), the contract requires Northrop Grumman to deliver tactical data link (TDL) systems and training services.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

ADFTA provides TDL engineering and technical support to the ADF to ensure TDL functionality at platform level to ‘achieve single, joint and combined TDL interoperability for the ADF’.

Northrop Grumman Australia chief executive Chris Deeble said: “Northrop Grumman has extensive experience in networking and tactical data links across multi-domain forces, and a robust capability roadmap that will deliver increasingly enhanced data link technology in the years ahead.

“The Northrop Grumman engineers that delivered the F-35 Multifunction Advanced Data Link and communications, navigation and identification technologies will now be developing the ADF’s future TDL technology.”

The company’s multi-TDL system enables connectivity between fourth-generation platforms and fifth-generation platforms, as well as future data links and networks, ensuring interoperability with the advanced systems.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

In a statement, Northrop Grumman said: “This is critical as forces seek to maximise the long-term value of existing platforms and systems by making certain that they can interoperate with emergent fifth-generation capabilities.”

The company is specialised in the software and hardware of communication systems.

It is also involved in the architectures and implementation of TDL systems and services.

In September, the firm won a contract extension to continue to support the Royal Australian Air Force’s Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures systems.

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact