Melissa Price

The department of defence has announced the first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) will be built in Western Australia as part of the federal government’s $90 billion Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Program. This will be the third of twelve Arafura class OPVs, and the first to be built at the Civmec shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Minister … Continue reading Construction commences for first OPV in WA →

Australian supplier PMB Defence and Greek enterprise Systems Sunlight S.A have signed subcontracts to design the main storage batteries for the Attack class submarines. The batteries will power twelve regional submarines, which will be designed and built in Australia for the Australian Navy under the Federal Government’s $50 billion Attack class program. Defence minister Linda … Continue reading PMB signs deal to design batteries for defence submarines →

Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, has indicated that Defence may be closer to securing the 15,000 jobs needed to tackle national shipbuilding projects, after Defence Department and National Naval Shipbuilding College officials held talks with General Motors’ representatives last week about redeployment opportunities for Holden staff. Out of the 15,000 construction and supply chain … Continue reading Holden’s workforce could be redeployed to Naval Shipbuilding project →

The Australian Army has received $1.5 million to commence a 12-month pilot trial of a new metal ­­3D printing technology in order to modernise and enhance the resilience of the ADF’s supply chains. “This will reduce the requirement for our soldiers to deploy with bulky repair parts, redefining how logistics are deployed on the future … Continue reading Australian soldiers to be trained in 3D printing →

Saab has signed an Enterprise Partnering Agreement with the Department of Defence to provide combat management systems (CMS) across all Royal Australian Navy major surface ships. The system is a critical element of a ship’s fighting capability. Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said it was pleasing to see such advanced capability being developed in the … Continue reading Saab to deliver combat management systems for Naval Shipbuilding Plan →

Kord Defence has been awarded a $1.4 million deal with the US Marine Corps. The small Canberra based company credits the federal government funding for its success. Kord develops mobile interface control solutions for military and law enforcement markets, and the contract will enable them to complete development of its Rifle Accessory Control Unit Technology.​ … Continue reading Australian company awarded US Marine Corps contract  →

Two Australian businesses, J3Seven and Point Trading, will provide the Australian Defence Forces with protection from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. The twin announcements are partnerships between the respective companies and Leidos Australia, which is the contractor providing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defence equipment capability to the ADF. Point Trading, based in Moorabbin, … Continue reading Regional businesses provide chemical protection →

The first two implementation plans to drive small business involvement in the defence sector was released by the Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, on December 17. The first Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Implementation Plan covers munitions and small arms research, development, and manufacturing. The second applies to combat clothing survivability and signature reduction technologies. … Continue reading Plan for small business involvement in defence released →

Local satellite manufacturer Inovor Technologies will supply a satellite bus for transporting equipment into space. The project is part of the Buccaneer Main Mission, developed by the Australia Defence Force to improve radar technology, as Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, outlined. “The Buccaneer program is aimed at improving our understanding of the outer atmosphere, … Continue reading Locally-made low cost satellite wins Defence contract →

Australian-made 3D printers will be installed on Australian Navy vessels in a trial of in-situ advanced manufacturing. Announced on November 21, the Department of Defence will invest $1.5 million in the Supersonic Deposition 3D printer pilot, a world first. The printers will be used on patrol vessels to streamline maintenance processes, as Minister for Defence … Continue reading Australian-made 3D printers to be installed on Navy vessels →

Canberra-based manufacturer, CEA Technologies, has won a $137 million contract to supply short range ground-based air defence radars. The advanced radars will provide ground forces with defence from sophisticated air threats, as Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price outlined. “This air defence capability combines world leading Australian radar technology with a highly effective air defence … Continue reading Local radar manufacturer selected for ground based systems →

At the National Defence Skills & Workforce Summit, Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, announced that the federal government will increase its funding for the Defence Industry Internship Program. The number of internships provided now increases to 70, delivered in partnership with small businesses around the country. “The Program links engineering students with defence industry … Continue reading More funding for defence industry interns →

The Australian Defence Force’s High Performance Computing Centre (HPCC) will begin construction in November. The $57 million contract to build the facility was awarded to South Australian company Hansen Yuncken, with the opportunity for local contractors to be involved in the build. These local subcontracts will enable Adelaide and South Australia-based manufacturers to commit materials, … Continue reading High performance computing centre to use local talent →

Drone technology in Australia has received $8.6 million in funding in two, joint announcements by the Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price. Melbourne company, Textron Systems will use a $3.4 million contract to further develop their drone technology. The partnership between the company and defence comes on the heels of an agreement between Textron and … Continue reading Innovation Hub funds drones for defence →

Boeing Defence Australia opened its Assembly and Test facility at Wacol, Queensland, on October 28. The Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, opened the manufacturing and testing facility, which will be used for the assembly and testing of the Integrated Battlefield Telecommunication Network. The Network will be designed and produced by Boeing in Australia. “This … Continue reading Boeing opens site for Currawong testing →

Two Australian companies have been awarded funding from the Defence Innovation Hub to develop new technologies for defence applications. One of those awarded funding is Anywise Consulting, which will manage and deliver a Health & Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) for bridges. Once completed, Defence’s gap-crossing abilities will be more available, reliable, and safe, said Minister … Continue reading Defence grants for bridge and space capabilities →

The potential for manufacturing SMEs to contribute to developing Australia’s sovereign industrial capability was highlighted in the latest round of Industry Capability Priority grants. Going to those manufacturers who are able to provide specialised support for the Australian Defence Forces, four South Australian companies were recipients of funding, announced on October 22. The funding is … Continue reading Defence manufacturers receive support for specialised equipment →

Two Australian manufacturers have been successful in leveraging government grants to grow their export businesses. The Blueprint Laboratory, a robotics manufacturer based in Sydney, will use the funding to develop its subsea, remotely operated manipulators and actuators to be sold around the world. Currently the arms are used locally in the naval defence sector, as … Continue reading Defence businesses use grants to grow export →

The Defence Industry Minister, Melissa Price, announced that two companies have received funding from the Defence Innovation Hub. The first, Sypaq Systems, will receive $3.5 million to develop an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to operate in harsh environmental conditions. The company will utilise a hybrid power delivery system and is developing the UAS for use … Continue reading Defence manufacturers receive Innovation Hub funding →

A NSW-based manufacturer, The Whiskey Project, has unveiled the first of its tactical watercraft. Shown to the public for the first time at PACIFIC 2019, the tactical watercraft is designed to perform in maritime tactical environments with maximal protection for personnel. Describing the vessel at the launch, former Royal Australian Navy clearance diver and managing … Continue reading Tactical watercraft unveiled at PACIFIC 2019 →