Latest News from ADA-Vic

Hi Juanita,

Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) is on this week at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and it is great to see some of our members are exhibiting!!

Additive Engineering
Altair
AW Bell Pty Ltd
CGB Precision Products Pty Ltd
Defence Directory
Integra Systems
RMIT University
Ronson Gears Pty Ltd
Sutton Tools
Thomas Warburton Pty Ltd

We wish them a very successful week and if you happen to be down there please pop in and say hello.

Investing in Australia's National Defence

Building on the Government’s commitment to implement the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review, and to commence the work to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program, Defence spending as a proportion of GDP will lift above its current trajectory to be 0.2 per cent higher by 2032-33.

Over the next four years, the Government will invest more than $19 billion to implement the immediate priorities identified in response to the Defence Strategic Review.

These include:

$9 billion for the nuclear-powered submarine program through AUKUS.
$4.1 billion for long-range strike capabilities.
$3.8 billion for northern base infrastructure.
$400 million to support Australian Defence Force personnel through a new continuation bonus.
$900 million on defence innovation, to establish the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator and through AUKUS Pillar 2.

Central to the security of Australia is the collective security of our region.

Importantly, there is additional funding for key defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, which builds on the Government’s extensive engagement in the region.

These immediate priorities will be delivered within Defence’s existing resourcing, including through an initial $7.8 billion reprioritisation of the Defence Integrated Investment Program.

This initial reprioritisation will be built on in the first National Defence Strategy, which will be delivered in 2024.

Implementation of the Defence Strategic Review represents the most substantive transformation of Defence in over 30 years, requiring whole-of-government and whole-of-nation uplift to ensure we have the ability to defend not only the nation, but our interests.

New Agency and Rgulator to Deliver Australia's Nuclear-Powered Submarine Program

The Government will establish a new agency and a new regulator as part of its commitment to delivering Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) will be established by Executive Order and be responsible and accountable for the management and oversight of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.

Australia’s acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS partnership will be critical to ensuring our Defence Force has the capabilities needed to keep Australians safe.

Work to deliver the pathway is already underway and remains a key priority for the Government, in line with the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review.

In leading the delivery of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines, the ASA will be responsible for cradle-to-grave management, including:

acquisition
delivery
construction
technical governance
sustainment, and
disposal

The ASA will also enable the necessary policy, legal, non-proliferation, workforce, security and safety arrangements.

The Royal Australian Navy, led by the Chief of Navy, will continue to be responsible for training submariners and operating Australia’s submarines.

The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce, which currently operates as part of Defence, will transition to the ASA on 1 July 2023.

It will be headed by a Director General, the appointment of which will be announced by the Government at the appropriate time.

The Government will also establish a new independent statutory regulator, the Australian Nuclear-Powered Submarine Safety Regulator (the Regulator).

The new Regulator will have the functions and powers necessary to regulate the unique circumstances associated with nuclear safety and radiological protection across the lifecycle of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine enterprise. This includes associated infrastructure and facilities.

The Regulator will be independent of the Australian Defence Force’s chain of command and directions from the Department of Defence.

This will be a fundamental part of a system of regulation. It will work with existing Australian regulators to support the safety of our submariners, Australian and international communities, and the environment.

Both the ASA and the Regulator will be non-corporate Commonwealth entities within the Defence portfolio and report directly to the Minister for Defence

Government Appoints Head of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise

On the 5th of May, the Government appointed the head of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise. The GWEO Enterprise will accelerate the establishment of a local long-range guided weapons and munitions manufacturing industry here in Australia.

The Defence Strategic Review recommended the appointment of a Senior Officer with the sole responsibility of leading the GWEO Enterprise, reporting directly to the Secretary of the Department of Defence and the Chief of the Australian Defence Force.

The Government is pleased to announce the appointment of the inaugural Chief of the GWEO Group, Air Vice-Marshal Leon Phillips OAM.

A key recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review was to accelerate and expand weapons systems, including land-based maritime strike and long-range missile launchers – to be complemented by investments to replenish our GWEO stocks and to establish sovereign missile and munition manufacturing facilities in Australia.

In response, the Government has committed $2.5 billion over the forward estimates for GWEO, an increase of more than $1.5 billion.

Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program (SCUP)

On Thursday 27 April Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty, Ben Carroll announced the first round of grant recipients under the Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program. The program supports local companies to become part of Hanwha’s supply chain by helping them meet specific technological, business system and accreditation requirements.

A total of almost $200,000 has been awarded to five companies that specialise in land systems defence, including APV Corporation to develop a specialised military seatbelt, Hannagan Solutions to develop custom textiles for protection or camouflage, Australian Precision Technologies and Redline Engineering for their cyber security systems, as well as Diamond Defence for their quality management system. Great to see some ADA-Vic members on the list!

Applications remain open. To apply for a grant from the SCUP see here.

From Defence:      

The Australian Government released the public version of the Defence Strategic Review (the Review) and the National Defence Statement 2023. The Commonwealth has agreed or agreed in principle, to the six priority areas for immediate action:

Acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines through AUKUS to improve our deterrence capabilities;
Developing the Australian Defence Force’s ability to precisely strike targets at longer-range and manufacture munitions in Australia;
Improving the ADF’s ability to operate from Australia’s northern bases;
Initiatives to improve the growth and retention of a highly skilled Defence workforce;
Lifting Australia’s capacity to rapidly translate disruptive new technologies into ADF capability, in close partnership with Australian industry; and
Deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships with key partners in the Indo-Pacific. Read the public version of the Review here.

Defence Minister Richard Marles announced plans to accelerate acquisition of additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems beyond the 20 now on order, plus 500-kilometre range Precision Strike Missiles including:

$4.1 billion to acquire more long-range missile strike systems of which;
$2.5 billion is allocated for the establishment of a local large-scale guided weapons manufacturing industry base. See more here.

Defence has appointed a senior officer, Air Vice-Marshal Leon Phillips to head the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise to accelerate the establishment of a local long-range guided weapons and munitions manufacturing industry in Australia. See more here.
The Australian Government announced a $3.4 billion investment over the next decade to establish the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, an additional $591 million above current planned spending on defence innovation. See more here.
The Australian Government will grant two consortiums $4 million each to develop prototypes for lunar rovers as part of its landmark Moon to Mars Trailblazer initiative. The Moon to Mars initiative is a $150 million investment over five years to drive the growth of Australia’s space sector. See more here.
The Australian Government to fund a new States and Territories 5-year skills agreement. The funding will support another 300,000 TAFE and VET Fee-Free places including manufacturing, sovereign capability including defence industries cybersecurity and technology. See more here.

The Australian Government released Australia’s National Quantum Strategy, on the back of the National Reconstruction Fund‘s targeted investment of $1 billion for critical technologies like quantum. See more here.
Team Defence Australia has opened Expressions of Interest to participate in the Australian industry delegation for Poland International Defence Industry Exhibition and Defence and Security Equipment International UK. EOIs close 11:59pm 24 May 2023. See more here.
Attached is the TDA 2023 Calendar.

Other News

The first round of grant recipients were announced under the Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program during a visit to the site for Hanwha Defense Australia’s $170 million Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence. See more here.
Minister for Employment Ben Carroll announced a $2 million partnership between Jobs Victoria and Chisholm Institute to fill 100 engineering roles in manufacturing by April next year. The Jobs Victoria Engineering Project is open to people facing barriers to employment. See more here.
Monash University and the Australian Space Agency have partnered with NASA to give Indigenous STEM students the opportunity to intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. See more here.
The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute have partnered with Swinburne University of Technology’s AIR Hub to increase the number of aerospace PhD internship projects and accelerate innovation in Australian aerospace industry. See more here.

Applications for the NAVIGATE Program are now open. The program aims to bolster Defence’s mid-career workforce capability, broaden the diversity of our workforce, and support participants as a STEM leader in defence. See more here.
The UK Space Agency has released a call for proposals under the £20 million International Bilateral fund to support international partnerships. Funding is available to industry, academia and research organisations and will support international partnerships to harness the UK’s national strengths, support new space capabilities and catalyse investment. Proposals close 9 June 2023 UK time See more here.
BAE Systems Australia is expanding its science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) outreach program with immersive technology company, Lumination, to young people in Victoria. See more here.
Leonardo Australia has achieved the AS9110 certification; a globally recognised quality management standard for the aerospace sector. See more here.
EOS Defence Systems business has secured a second conditional contract to supply up to 50 Remote Weapon Systems to Ukraine. EOS will draw upon its supply chain network consisting of over one hundred suppliers located across Australia and internationally. See more here.

Attached is the ADM’s list of Defence tenders.

Defence Industry Support Tools    

The Office of Defence Industry Support has several tools to support defence SMEs. The Defence Business Readiness Tool, the Digital Readiness Assessment Tool, and the Cyber Security Assessment Tool.

Upcoming Domestic Events:    

16 May 2023 – Introduction to Defence & Defence Industry. See more here.
17 May 2023 - Australian Space Summit. See more here.
30 – 31 May 2023 - Land Environment Working Group. See more here.
1 June 2023 - Cyber Security Summit and Awards. See more here.
21 June 2023 - ADM Congress. See more here.

29 August 2023 - Army Innovation Day 2023. See more here.

Links to Grant and other Programs:       

Victorian Government      
Applications Open Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program (SCUP)

Office of Defence Industry Support       
Defence Science Institute Assistance and Support  
Defence Global Competitiveness Grants Program     
Defence Innovation Hub       
Defence Cooperative Research Centres Program

Next Generation Technology Fund     
Small Business Innovation Research for Defence   
Export Finance Australia   
Entrepreneurs’ Program – Accelerating Commercialisation   
Skilling Australia's Defence Industry Grants Program

In partnership with the Victorian State Government, Lockheed Martin Australia manages a secure facility designed to enable Victoria’s innovation community to better engage with classified Defence and National Security programs. The first facility of its type in Australia, the Victorian Common User Facility is a key initiative in creating new business opportunities for Victoria’s innovation sector.

For more information or to make CUF bookings, please email amod.joshi@lmco.com

Australia Partner Network

Leidos Australia is focused on working with Australian Industry for delivery of all of our projects. We know the importance of supporting the growth of sovereign capability and would like to work with more Australian businesses at all stages of our delivery lifecycle.

We encourage Australian companies, who are interested in working with us on the opportunities identified above or on other business requirements as they arise, to complete the following registration form.

In your submission, you should highlight your experience with any relevant Defence, Intelligence, ICT and cyber capabilities and technologies. Our team will then be in touch to identify potential next steps.

Australian Defence Export Office Pitch Training Program

The ADEO, in partnership with Marketing Entourage, have created a five week online pitch training program specifically for businesses looking to export defence and dual use goods and services. This training is fully subsidised for Australian Defence Industry businesses.

The program is specifically designed to improve the chances of success for Australian defence industry companies when engaging with opportunities to pitch their capabilities to foreign military and military suppliers. The training is delivered through a series of webinars, online modules and one-to-one pitch practice sessions.

Australian Defence Industry businesses are encouraged to apply by registering their interest at the link below. Multiple people from the same business can be included as a single application. Limited spaces are available on each cohort and the ADEO will prioritise businesses who have recently participated in an industry delegation with TDA.

Click here to learn more about the Online Pitch Training Program and to register your interest.