Australian Defence

Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has addressed the House for the final time as he retires from Australian politics. After 26 years in politics, Pyne addressed the House for the final time on April 4. He has a long career that included ministerial jobs – from education to industry, ageing and defence. On his … Continue reading Defence minister Christopher Pyne has left the parliament building  →

A plan detailing how new jobs will be created to help deliver the Australian government’s $200 billion investment in defence capability was launched at the beginning of March. Minister for Defence Industry, Steven Ciobo, released the first Defence Industry Skilling and STEM Strategy at the 2019 Avalon International Airshow. The strategy outlines how the government will help Australian … Continue reading Defence Industry Skilling and STEM strategy to create new jobs →

The Australian government is backing Australian defence businesses to become exporters with a new dedicated grants program. The Defence Global Competitiveness Grant program will support small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to overcome barriers in accessing export opportunities. The program will provide up to $4.1 million each year to support Australian SMEs as the government works … Continue reading Grants available for Australian defence businesses →

Australian minister for defence, Christopher Pyne, has announced the South Asian region will be the focus for Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE19). Engagement with India, one of Australia’s key strategic partners in the Indian Ocean region, will be the cornerstone for IPE19 with a number of high-level activities to be conducted to showcase the breadth and … Continue reading Indo-Pacific endeavours focus on building relationship with India →

Minister for Defence, Marise Payne this week announced approval of a $495 million investment in two projects for new facilities at the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct in Northern Territory. The first project includes investing $272 million to support naval operations in the facility, which will deliver a new outer wharf to support the Royal Australian Navy’s major surface combatant ships … Continue reading New facilities at Larrakeyah Defence Precinct to support naval operations →

The Department of Defence is seeking input from Australian industry on the proposed tender timeline for LAND 400 Phase 3 – one of the Army’s largest purchases involving the acquisition of mounted close combat vehicle capability. In a joint statement today, Minister for Defence Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne called on the industry to review and comment on … Continue reading Defence calls for industry opinion on Land 400 Phase 3 tender timeline →

Defence is inviting Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to submit proposals for new technologies to protect Australian small, fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by making them harder to detect. Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, said this was another opportunity for SMEs to contribute innovative solutions to enhance Defence capability. “Australian SMEs are great … Continue reading Defence seeks SME proposals to enhance stealth of unmanned aerial systems →

A group of 39 Australian defence companies have come together as part of Team Defence Australia’s (TDA) inaugural presence at Eurosatory 2018, a premier international defence and security exhibition in Paris, France (June 11-15). Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, who travelled to France to support TDA’s delegation, noted that the exhibition by Australian companies was in … Continue reading Australian defence companies exhibit at Eurosatory 2018 →

Lurssen Australia, the prime contractor for the design and build of 12 new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the navy, has awarded a subcontract to L3 Communications Australia. While opening L3’s new Defence Design and Engineering Centre in Victoria yesterday, Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, said the contract with L3 would provide the communications throughout the … Continue reading L3 wins OPV subcontract from Lurssen →

The first ever Defence Industrial Capability Plan has been released, outlining Australia’s long-term vision and objectives for Australia’s defence industry, and how the government and defence will partner with industry to achieve that vision. Minister for defence industry, Christopher Pyne, launched the plan yesterday in a speech to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. The plan … Continue reading New defence industrial plan outlines capability priorities →

Team Defence Australia, a mission organised by the Centre for Defence Industry Capabilities, will be showcasing Australian defence capabilities as part of Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2018 exhibition, running from 16-19 April in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One of the top five defence shows in the world, DSA has run for almost three decades since the first in … Continue reading Australian defence companies target ASEAN markets at DSA 2018 →

Three Australian small businesses have been awarded contracts through the Defence Innovation Hub to further develop their innovative technologies. Adelaide-based company Mincham Aviation, Sydney-based Omega Dev Group and Melbourne-based Seer Security were awarded contracts totalling $584,000, according to a media release by Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne. “Investing in Defence innovation will not only … Continue reading Three small businesses secure defence innovation contracts →

Brisbane-based photonics products manufacturer, L-3 Micreo will be supplying defence forces with a new force protection capability designed to protect against the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The agreement between Defence and L-3 Micreo valued at $26.9 million will see the company deliver 13,000 advanced vehicle mounted systems, termed as Silvershied, which will be used to … Continue reading Qld company’s new shield to protect soldiers against IEDs →

Defence and security company Saab has signed a $2.42m contract with ASC to supply an updated Integrated Ship Control Management and Monitoring System (ISCMMS) for four Royal Australian Navy Collins class submarines. Saab’s ISCMMS allows the submarine crew to centrally control many submarine systems, fully integrating the management of propulsion, trim, power generation and ship … Continue reading ASC, Saab sign contract to upgrade submarine management system →

Fincantieri Australia will hold a supplier briefing with Northern Territory businesses in Darwin later this month to showcase the opportunities for local industry in the shipbuilder’s global supply chain. The briefing will take place on January 25 at the Northern Australia Development House in Darwin and will run in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, Australian … Continue reading Australian shipbuilder to showcase manufacturing opportunities →

South Australia’s defence industry is heading into a new era of investment, export opportunities and high tech collaboration, Defence and Space Industries Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith has stated. The opportunities – outlined in the South Australian Government Defence Strategy: 2030 – follows three years of successful advocacy for local industry and workers as partners in major defence infrastructure projects. … Continue reading SA announces new strategy to ‘transform state’s defence industry’ →

Defence contractor Rheinmetall has announced it is integrating its operations in Australia and New Zealand into a single operational unit. Gary Stewart has been appointed as the managing director to lead the business, which will include the existing operations of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia, Rheinmetall Electronic Solutions Australia and Logistic Solutions … Continue reading Rheinmetall integrates Australia and New Zealand defence operations →

An agreement has been met to strengthen industrial links between the Australia and United Kingdom’s defence materials sector. Defence industry minister Christopher Pyne and the UK’s defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon have discussed ways to enhance defence exports between the two nations. Following their meeting, it was announced that they had agreed to establish “a … Continue reading Australia-UK defence links to ‘strengthen industry exports’ →

Western Australian shipbuilder Austal is teaming up with government-owned counterpart ASC in South Australia to win the contract to build the Navy’s nine new frigates. Three international designers have been shortlisted for the $35 billion program – British BAE, Italian firm Fincantieri and Spanish company Navantia. The Government is expected to make a decision in … Continue reading SA and WA shipbuilders join to win frigates contract →

One of the down-selected tenderers for the LAND 400 contract, BAE Systems, has revealed the SMEs it will team with if it wins the tender. The company has named Victorian firms Marand, MOOG Australia, Motec, AME Systems, RUAG Australia, DVR Engineering, Milspec and APV as the companies it will be working with. The LAND 400 … Continue reading BAE Systems reveals potential partners for LAND 400 →