Latest Defence News from ADA-Vic

Hi there,

In-person networking has been the main focus for many Defence focussed businesses over the last few months, especially with Land Forces 2021 being on last week in Brisbane (find Minister Price's opening speech @ LF21 here).

Due to the uncertainty around COVID restrictions, we are unfortunately postponing our annual Networking & Golf Day, which was due to take place in just over two week's time on Friday 25th June.

We hope to reschedule this event to the end of July and will confirm a date once we have a clearer understanding of when we will be able to hold this very important opportunity to network and do business.

Thank you all for your support as we try and facilitate relationship building events within the Defence Industry in these uncertain COVID times.

If you need support through this time, please get in touch today via info@australiandefencealliance.org.au so that we can point you in the right direction.

Don't stop the momentum you've achieved from social media around #LandForces21, even if you didn't make it there in person.

We encourage you to leverage social media (Linkedin & Twitter) to raise awareness and gain access to potential clients.

Pictures & Videos usually attract the most attention
Tag us in = @australian defence alliance victoria (choose our logo (shown above))
And use some appropriate #s, like #defenceindustry & #defence etc...

We'll endeavour to like, comment and share your posts so others will see it in our networks.

If you're still scratching your head wondering how to engage with and gain traction in the Defence Supply Chain, start attending our events and please get in touch today via info@australiandefencealliance.org.au so that we can point you in the right direction.

From Gov & Defence

Hon Melissa Price speaks about new shipbuilding jobs portal, "a game changer for jobseekers", more here
Army has released it’s Quantum Technology Roadmap. See more here.
UNEEK Bending Co has received a Defence Global Competitiveness Grant. See more here.
Lieutenant General John ‘JJ’ Frewen has been appointed head of the Commonwealth Government’s vaccination task force.
Defence’s accelerated invoice payments program is winding down, Since March 2020 Defence has processed $29 billion in accelerated payments.
D+I Conference and Awards 28-29 July 2021, more to come shortly... see more here
The early payment of invoices by the Department of Defence will cease on 30 June 2021. Until then invoices less than $1 million will continue to be paid early and invoices over $1 million will revert to contracted payment terms
44 companies and 77 Defence people have registered their interest in the Defence Industry Secondment program. A further 14 companies are considering participating in the program
International freight management: $787 million has been provided by the Commonwealth Government to support international freight movement. More than 440 tonnes, worth around $6.7 billion, of high value perishable freight has been moved. Competition for sea freight has seen the demand for air freight increase. Air freight remains between 1.5 and 4.2 times its pre-COVID cost.
Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts AM CSC has been appointed as the inaugural Head of the Space Division. See more here
A good article on Australia’s Space Division can be found here.
Defence has released the 2021 Australian Defence Sales Catalogue. The catalogue includes a large number of Victorian businesses. See more here and here.
The Commonwealth Government has strengthened national security and is on track to deliver the 2020 Force Structure Plan with its 20-21 budget. See more here, here and here. In short:

The Defence budget for FY 2021-22 is $44.62 billion. A further $152.64 billion is forecast for the following three financial years.
$73.25 billion is to be spent on capital acquisition (military equipment, estate, ICT) and $59.06 billion is to be spent on sustainment over the next four years.
$220.1 million is forecast for estate expenditure in Victoria. Of this, $95.80 million is to be spent on various projects in the Puckapunyal Military Area.
There are no major policy announcements in the defence budget, which remains on track to deliver on the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and the 2020 Force Structure Plan.

The Minister for Defence Industry reinforces her commitment to Australian Industry Capability in her address to the Defence Connect Budget Lunch. See more here.

Global Victoria is delivering an Export Skills Program as part of the Victorian Government's $15.7 million Export Recovery Package (ERP), more here. The program aims to help Victorian businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) to grow and develop their export skills and capabilities.
Team Defence Australia is planning to take a delegation to Sea, Air, Space in Washington USA from 1 to 4 August 2021. See more details on the ICN webpage here
The Commonwealth Government has released its Modern Manufacturing Strategy’s Defence National Manufacturing Priority road map. See more here... and also the Modern Manufacturing Initiative - Manufacturing Integration Grant Program for the Defence sector is now open. See more here

Funding and Announcements

Victorian Government
Jobs Victoria Fund
Centre for Defence Industry Capability
Defence Science Institute
Defence Innovation Hub
Defence Cooperative Research Centres Program
Defence Industry Internship Program
Next Generation Technology Fund
Defence Industry Competitive Evaluation Research Agreement
Small Business Innovation Research for Defence
Export Finance Australia
Advanced Manufacturing Support Programs
Entrepreneurs’ Program – Accelerating Commercialisation
The Manufacturing and Industry Development Fund (MIDF) is now open, more here
The Vic Gov Business Competitiveness Program, is open now = grants up to $500k, more here
CDIC Grants Open... 3 x Capability Improvement & Competitiveness Grants, more here
$1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) Funding Opportunity, more here. Also see the Government's Modern Manufacturing Strategy which the MMI funding aligns with here
The Commonwealth Government has launched the Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund to support the delivery of new pathways in the sector, more here
The Commonwealth Government is encouraging space related businesses to apply for the second round of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund grants. See more here
Government promotes Moon to Mars with more Grants, more here & here
Victorian Govt. 'Small Business Digital Adaptation Program', update your business, more here
ASBAS - Funding to Get Professional Advice for updating your business, more here
Skilling Australia's Defence Industry (SADI) Grants "Open for Applications", more here

Other News

The Victorian Government has announced support packages to assist SMEs and sole traders unable to operate during the COVID restrictions now in place. See more here
The Victorian Government announces recent support for Sypaq and Moog, and significant investment in the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct. See more here
Victorian businesses Spee3D and DefendTex and Victorian Dr Brodie McDonald feature in the Land Forces Innovation Awards. See more here
Mackay Rubber is confirmed as a supply chain partner on the Hunter Frigate program. See more here
Thales Australia and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems have entered into an agreement to enhance Thales’s munitions capability. See more here
The Prime Minister visited Aquaterro on 20 May 2021. See more here
Naval Group has released EOIs for $100 million in for items to fit out the Attack Class shipyard. The EOIs are on Naval Group’s Industry Capability Network portal. See more here
Victorian companies, Leonardo Australia and Advanced Technology Testing and Research have entered into a strategic partnership. See more here
Kinexus has published a report on defence industry hiring intentions, See more here
AVT Australia launches a new imaging system for small UAVs. See more here
Australian Defence Apparel unveils future ready apparel systems at Land Forces. See more here
ANCA Engineering Solutions has been selected by Hanwha as part of its Land 400 Phase 3 supply chain. See more here
Marand signs a partnership deal with Rheinmetall on Land 400 Phase 3. See more here
Elbit Systems Australia remains confident it can resolve issues around Army’s land battle management system. See more here
Aquaterro has launched Aquaterro TV. See more here
The Australian Simulation Congress is scheduled to take place 9 to 11 November 2021. See more here
Australian Defence Industry Awards are open for nomination now, see more here
ATTAR announces a strategic partnership with Leonardo Australia to deliver Advanced Non-Destructive Testing at Leonardo’s centre of excellence in Fishermans Bend, Victoria
The Victorian FY2021-22 state budget has provided $5.4 million over two years to support the defence industry sector. This support will be provided through the Defence Capture Team, the Victorian Defence Industry Advocate and the operations of the Defence Council of Victoria, the Victorian Defence Alliances and the Defence Science Institute.
From the DSI:

Applications are open through the DSI for the Artificial Intelligence for Decision Making Initiative Round 2. See more here
DARPA Opportunity – In-Pixel Intelligence Processing invitation to submit research concepts. See more here
US Department of Defense Opportunity – Advancement of Technologies for use by Special Forces. See more here
US Army Research Office Opportunity – LPS Qubit Collaboratory. See more here

Victorian Government Launches

$15.7 million
Export Recovery Package (ERP)

Global Victoria is delivering an Export Skills Program as part of the Victorian Government's $15.7 million Export Recovery Package (ERP), more here.

The program aims to help Victorian businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) to grow and develop their export skills and capabilities.

Want to know more?

For more information about the Export Skills Program, contact us by sending an email to info@global.vic.gov.au

Defence National Manufacturing
Priority road map released

The Goals

2 years: Manufacturers are investing more in addressing Defence priority capabilities and other market opportunities have improved their linkages within the defence ecosystem.

5 years: Greater manufacturing capability and increased participation in defence supply chains by Australian businesses. Smaller manufacturers are scaling up, creating the underrepresented ‘middle’ of the defence industry.

10 years: More Australian businesses are contributing to local and international defence supply chains, while more Australian innovation and intellectual property is contributing to products supplied to the ADF and other markets.

For the website with more details see more here

RMIT - HAPS Challenge
(High Altitude Pseudo Satellites)

The HAPS Challenge aims to energise local Australian development of key technologies and to ensure Australian sovereign HAPS that have accurate station-keeping capability or long endurance capacity needed to allow deployment over an area of operations for a period of days to weeks.

Trusted Autonomous Systems, SmartSat CRC, and RAAF Air Warfare Centre in association with SLWDAC at RMIT invites Australian companies to enter the High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Challenge. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to our national capability.

Phase 1 Shortlist for Phase 2 completed = 25th June 2021

Phase 2 Commencement = 28th June 2021

Phase 2 Submission Due Date = 8th October 2021

Phase 2 Shortlist for Phase 3 completed = 12th November 2021

Phase 3 Commencement = 15th November 2021

Phase 3 completion and demonstration = 20th May 2022

More information on how to enter can be found here