Multimillion Investment for Australian Defence Sector

March 26, 2014

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DAVID JOHNSTON

The Australian Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston, and the Assistant Minister for Defence, Mr Stuart Robert today announced a multimillion dollar investment to develop future defence technology in Australia.

Up to $13 million has been committed under Round 18 of the Capability and Technology Demonstrator Program.

Managed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, the program supports Australian industry to develop and demonstrate new technologies that could contribute to Defence capability.

“Seven technology proposals from Australian companies and universities have been selected this year to demonstrate possible defence applications,” Senator Johnston said.

“These proposals have the potential to advance Defence capability, produce innovative products for Defence and civilian use, and stimulate Australian industry growth.”

This year’s successful proposals include:

a new technology for improved detection of interference sources affecting GPS,
a portable fuel cell to improve energy support to forward operating bases,
software for rapid submarine communications,
a sound deadener to improve submarine stealth by reducing exhaust noise from diesel engines,
a portable global wideband satellite communications terminal suitable for smaller ships,
technology to improve the processing performance of maritime radars, and
a miniature radio frequency kit for next generation decoys used to protect ADF platforms from missiles.

Subject to satisfactory contract negotiations, these CTD projects should commence in mid-2014.

The successful proposals were submitted by GPSat Systems Australia, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, CEA Technologies, Adelaide Research & Innovation (University of Adelaide), EM Solutions, BAE Systems Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia.

“Since the Capability and Technology Demonstrator Program began, Defence has invested $263 million in 112 projects, half of them proposed by small-to-medium enterprises. Of these, 96 projects have provided successful demonstrations to date, with 15 having entered service,” Mr. Robert said.

Senator Johnston said a number of current and recently completed projects are also promising for candidates to be transitioned into service in the future.