Melissa Price

Ten contracts have been awarded to Australian businesses totalling $23 million from the federal government, aiming to strengthen the capability of the Australian Defence Force. 

The federal government will invest $155 million in new and upgraded facilities at HMAS Cairns – a significant boost to the North Queensland economy. This investment will support the new Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels. Defence has engaged Watpac Construction as its Managing Contractor for the NCIS-8A HMAS Cairns Building and Maritime Works package. Prime … Continue reading HMAS Cairns to receive $155m upgrade →

An Indigenous construction company has been awarded the head contract to build a $23.9 million missile assembly and maintenance facility in Western Sydney. National Aboriginal Construction Partners (NACP) Projects is expected to employ around 200 workers during construction of the Nulka Missile Assembly and Maintenance facilities, at the Defence Establishment Orchard Hills. Minister for Defence … Continue reading Indigenous company NACP to build missile assembly and maintenance facility in NSW →

The Federal Government has announced a $9 million boost to Australia’s defence industry to develop an integrated system that can detect and neutralise improvised threats. The contract, awarded to Lockheed Martin Australia’s Science, Technology, Engineering Leadership and Research Laboratory (STELaRLaB), was given as part of Defence’s Counter Improvised Grand Threat Challenge (CIT-GC) initiative. It includes … Continue reading Lockheed Martin Australia wins Defence contract →

Forty engineering students from Australian universities have been awarded scholarships as part of the federal government’s plan to grow the pool of talent for naval shipbuilding. The National Naval Shipbuilding Pipeline Scholarship program provides students from the Queensland University of Technology and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with funded university study. The program, facilitated … Continue reading More engineering students awarded naval shipbuilding scholarship →

Dozens of defence industry jobs will be secured in Queensland after the federal government extended a 12-month contract that provides support for Defence’s Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said Boeing Defence Australia would continue to provide support for the Chinook fleet out to 2025 under the CH-47F Chinook Integrated Support Services (CISS) … Continue reading $89 million Chinook support contract extension secures Queensland jobs →

According to a defence ministry press release, the federal government is collaborating with Australia’s defence industry to develop a “go-to” guide for small businesses on how to improve their security practices to help them win Defence work. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price launched the Working Securely with Defence guide alongside Australian Industry Group national … Continue reading Federal government launches guide to bolster industry security →

The first F-35A aircraft has been inducted into BAE Systems Australia’s (BAESA) maintenance depot as part of the next milestone in the Joint Strike Fighter Program. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the F-35A fleet was now 33 strong and ready to deploy on operations. “This is about protecting and securing Australia’s interests but it’s also … Continue reading Australia celebrates F-35 program milestone →

The federal government is continuing to strengthen Australia’s defence capability by investing in the ideas and expertise of innovative Australian companies and research organisations. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said 10 new Defence Innovation Hub contracts demonstrated Australia’s capacity to drive the development of advanced technologies for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. “This latest … Continue reading $21 million Innovation Hub investment to drive advanced technologies →

Eight Australian small businesses will share in more than $3.4 million in grants as part of the federal government’s continued push to grow Australia’s sovereign defence industry. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the latest round of Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grants would provide the businesses and the wider Australian economy with a major … Continue reading $3.4m in grants awarded to defence SMEs →

Thales Australia has signed a $23.7 million deal with the Australian Government to upgrade the sonar systems of the Navy’s Collins Class submarines. The two contracts are for the design and implementation of the Mine and Obstacle Avoidance System and the High Frequency Intercept Array for the submarine fleet. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon … Continue reading Thales Australia to deliver enhanced sonars for Collins Class submarines →

The federal government has announced a $10 million investment in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to give Australia an edge across all of Defence domains. The new initiative will support Australian industry to develop new AI applications across Defence’s information and cyber, maritime, air, space, and land domains. Minister for Defence Melissa Price said the initiative … Continue reading $10 million investment for AI capability →

Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price has announced the release of the Enhanced active phased array and passive radar capability Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Plan. This is an indication of the federal government continuing to support and grow industry opportunities for Australia’s world-leading industrial radar system capabilities. Price said the enhanced active phased array and … Continue reading Federal government backs Australia’s radar capabilities →

An innovative small business helping soldiers in the battlefield control electrical devices on their weapons and body has been awarded a $3.4 million contract with Defence. Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, announced the new contract, funded through the Defence Innovation Hub, with Canberra-based Kord Defence. “The Morrison Government is continuing to invest in Australian … Continue reading Canberra small business wins Defence innovation contract →

Small Sydney-based business Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems has been awarded a three-year, $7.5 million contract to improve the Royal Australian Navy’s training system capacity. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the new contract extends Cirrus’ role in delivering Tactical Electronic Warfare (TACEW) simulation training systems. Cirrus has previously provided high-tech simulation workstations to … Continue reading Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems delivers high-tech training systems to Defence →

A DART rocket carrying a Defence payload has launched today from Koonibba Rocket Range in South Australia, marking the first commercial rocket launch to the edge of space from Australia. At just 3.4 metres long and weighing 34 kilograms, the DART rocket is a fraction of the size of rockets launched by NASA and SpaceX. … Continue reading Air Force’s first space payload launch from Australia →

The Australian Government is examining more opportunities for Australia’s local industry in the Hunter Class Frigate Program with three feasibility studies for Australian industry to participate in the build phase of the first three frigates. Prime contractor ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia, has engaged Queensland-based Craig International Ballistics to investigate an Australian … Continue reading Hunter Class Frigate Program to have more engagement with Australian industry →

Eight individuals studying at three universities across Australia have been awarded Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholarships by Defence. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said Defence was working to take a leading role in shaping the national STEM agenda and build a strong record of inclusion. This week marked National Science Week, Australia’s … Continue reading STEM scholarships grow Defence’s talent pool →

Efforts to boost Australia’s defence exports are going online with plans for a series of webinars and one-on-one virtual discussions with small businesses across the country. The virtual sessions will be led by Australia’s Defence Export Advocate, David Johnston, who has been tasked to help small businesses overcome export challenges arising from COVID-19. The Australian … Continue reading Defence export advocate goes virtual promoting small business to the world →

Defence small businesses will be recruited to join the fight against cyber threats under a new industry support program being launched, according to a statement by Defence. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said Australian small businesses will receive funding to develop ambitious, game-changing capabilities for the Australian Defence Force. The Defence Industry Competitive Evaluation … Continue reading Cyber the early focus of new small business grant program →