defence

The Australian Army’s 7th Brigade, based at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, has received its second delivery of locally manufactured trucks, trailers and modules as part of a $1.6 billion LAND 121 contract. The delivery comes with a boost to local jobs with more than 220 new jobs in the state’s heavy vehicle manufacturing industry and flow on … Continue reading Local truck manufacturing creates jobs in QLD →

Last week, the NSW government announced the funding for the renewal of the Fitzroy Street shipyard slipway to reactivate the Port of Newcastle and the Hunter as a major marine ship repair and maintenance precinct. For this project, defence company Thales Australia will begin stage one of a phased redevelopment of the site, creating an … Continue reading New life breathed into Newcastle maritime maintenance →

A BIS Research report forecasts the global 3D printing plastic and photopolymer material market is estimated to reach $1.86 billion (A$2.37 billion) by 2023 at a CAGR of 21.5 per cent from 2017 to 2023. The report says that it is because of the reliable properties of plastic and photopolymer, their cost effectiveness as compared … Continue reading Global 3D printing plastic and photopolymer market to reach A$2.37 billion by 2023 →

WA-based shipbuilder Austal has won a contract worth up to $779 million to construct a Frigate-sized Independence Class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 28) for the US Navy. The ship will be constructed at Austal’s shipyard in Alabama, however some subsystems will be produced at the company’s Henderson, WA facility. These will include ride control systems, … Continue reading WA shipbuilder wins $779 million contract →

A $100 million battery storage “gigafactory” is likely to be built in Darwin, with a new consortium planning to establish a large-scale lithium-ion manufacturing plant by the end of 2018. Energy Renaissance will be backed by engineering group UGL (recently bought by CIMIC), and partnering with US battery storage company 24M. The first phase of the plant, … Continue reading Darwin battery storage gigafactory to open in 2018 →

At the recent Paris airshow, it was reported that Boeing released a forecast for aerospace services demand, projecting the need for expansive services over the next 10 years, valued at US$2.6 trillion (A$3.4 trillion). The outlook is said to demonstrate “tremendous potential” for growth in the aerospace services markets Boeing serves, including: Maintenance, engineering and … Continue reading Boeing: Tremendous growth predicted in aerospace market →

Parliamentary Secretary for the South Coast Gareth Ward has announced that Nowra company Global Defence Solutions has been recognised with a national award for manufacturing mobile kitchens for the Australian Defence Force. Ward said that Global Defence Solutions (GDS) took out an award for projects worth under $50 million at The Defence + Industry Conference … Continue reading Nowra company recognised for RAAF manufacturing →

Future submarine building jobs are at stake in SA, after French company DCNS retracted its statement that 90 per cent of the construction of its next fleet would occur in Australia. Speaking to a Senate committee on Tuesday night, DCNS said it had no formal agreement with Adelaide company ASC (which had been promised the … Continue reading Submarine jobs at stake as DCNS backtracks on promises →

LAND 400 contenders BAE Systems Australia and Rheinmetall have tested their vehicles in an exercise at the Puckapunyal Army Base in Victoria. BAE Systems presented the Patria AMV35, while Rheinmetall presented the Boxer CRV. Both vehicles showed significantly improved capabilities compared to the current Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) fleet, according to Defence Industry Minister … Continue reading LAND 400 contenders present vehicles for testing →

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 →

Following the announcement by Defence Industry minister Christopher Pyne that Australian companies will have an opportunity to capitalise on the international F-35 joint Strike Force Program, Steven Impey takes a closer look at what manufacturers can hope to gain from the government’s massive defence budget. As billions in federal dollars continue to pour into Australia’s … Continue reading Putting Australian industry on an upward trajectory →

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 →

BAE Systems Australia has welcomed the announcement of the renewal of Australia’s Global Supply Chain Agreement by Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne. The agreement will allow BAE Systems to continue to provide Australian companies with access to commercial and defence opportunities within its international business. In 2016, the company had contracts with over 24,000 … Continue reading Australia’s Global Supply Chain Agreement to sustain defence industry →

This National Reconciliation Week, BAE Systems Australia has announced it is taking the next steps in its Indigenous engagement, through a new Strategic Relationship Agreement with the Indigenous Defence Consortium (IDC), and an enhancement to the company’s partnership with the Diversity Council Australia (DCA) with support for its Inaugural D&I Oration. “This Strategic Relationship Agreement … Continue reading BAE Systems welcomes new Indigenous partnerships →

The new multi-million dollar expansion of the Albatross Aviation Technology Park will set the Shoalhaven defence industry on a new path to growth, according to NSW Minister for Trade and Industry, Niall Blair. Blair joined Member for Kiama and Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra, Gareth Ward in Nowra last week to tour the expanded facilities. “This facility … Continue reading NSW aviation park expansion an opportunity for local companies →

Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, has announced the release of a Request for Proposal for the Naval Shipbuilding College.  The Naval Shipbuilding College is a key initiative in the Naval Shipbuilding Plan, released in May 2017. Pyne said the College would attract, train, and retrain naval shipbuilding workers for the Government’s $90 billion shipbuilding program. … Continue reading Naval Shipbuilding College to train thousands of Australian students →

Northrop Grumman Corporation has opened a new repair facility at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Edinburgh base in South Australia, to provide more efficient in-country support services for the repair and maintenance of laser-based Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems. LAIRCM systems are currently installed on six RAAF aircraft types, 57 aircraft total, with … Continue reading Northrop Grumman opens aircraft repair facility in SA →

The Naval Shipbuilding Plan has been released, outlining how the Australian government expects to deliver $89 billion worth of ships over the next few decades. According to the report, there will need to be $1.3 billion worth of upgrades to shipyards in South and Western Australia, which will be funded through taxpayers. It is also … Continue reading Foreign workers needed to support SA shipbuilding →

Northrop Grumman has announced it will make a AU$50 million investment to develop an advanced defence electronics maintenance and sustainment centre located in Western Sydney. The centre will ultimately be located at the Badgerys Creek precinct, where Northrop Grumman will be the anchor tenant for an advanced aerospace and defence industries precinct. Over the coming … Continue reading Northrop Grumman to invest AU$50M in defence technology →

Victorian Manufacturing Awards 2017 was presented in the Crown Palladium and rewarded the best Manufacturers in small, medium and large businesses. The theme for the event was centred around Australia’s drive towards growing advanced manufacturing – a concept that is gaining traction among many Australian manufacturers, especially the SMEs. The opening keynote address by Jake … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing to be a focus: Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards 2017 →