Latest News from ADA-Vic

The Government is delivering two key air and missile defence capability projects, as it gets on with the job of implementing the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review.

The Review makes clear that an enhanced, all-domain integrated air and missile defence capability is critical in the face of Australia’s evolving strategic circumstances.

As a part of its response, the Government has committed $765 million to deliver the Joint Air Battle Management System. This is the second tranche of what is expected to be a multibillion dollar program.

The Joint Air Battle Management System will support an enhanced, integrated and coordinated air and missile defence capability across the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and national infrastructure. It will provide greater situational awareness of advanced air and missile threats and increased interoperability with international partners.

Lockheed Martin Australia has been selected as the Strategic Partner for this project and will collaborate with other Australian defence industry partners, presenting significant workforce, technological, and integration opportunities for Australian industry.

The project is likely to generate up to 230 jobs, including for subcontractors, in high-tech areas including software development, systems engineering, project management and logistics. Around 150 jobs will be in South Australia, 60 in the NSW Hunter region, with others in Brisbane and Canberra.

The Government is also accelerating the ADF’s Medium-Range Ground-Based Air Defence capability, which will form part of a layered, integrated air missile defence capability. Options are currently being developed with several companies for Government consideration.

The Government is making the necessary investments to enhance the ADF and provide more coordinated and better integrated systems.

Read more >

Review of Defence Trade Controls
Act 2012

The Government has appointed Mr Peter Tesch and Professor Graeme Samuel AC to co-lead a review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012.

The Act regulates the supply of military and dual-use technology overseas and the brokering of defence goods and technology.

A review is required every five years under the Act to ensure Australia’s export control regime remains fit for purpose, balancing appropriate safeguards with a rapidly evolving strategic environment.

The review will examine the Act alongside existing policies and regulations surrounding the protection of sensitive and critical technology, and consider whether current safeguards for technology transfers complement these frameworks. The review will also evaluate the Act in the context of other reforms the Government is considering to defence trade.

Nominations are now open!

The Endeavour Awards are presented annually by Manufacturers’ Monthly.

Recognised as the premier Awards program within the manufacturing industry, the evening is a chance for all involved in manufacturing across Australia to celebrate the many successes within the industry, to help share these successes with a broader audience, to network, and to learn more about the many remarkable personalities and enterprises that make the industry great.

Nominating is free, and must be completed using this online form by 11:59pm Friday 6 October 2023.

More info >

From Defence:

Defence will invest more than $1.7 billion in technologically advanced weapons systems:

Around $1.3 billion will be spent to acquire 200 Tomahawks to equip the Navy’s three Hobart-class DDGs. Each has a range more than 1,500 kilometres, making them the longest-range missiles in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) inventory
The Australian Government approved the acquisition of more than 60 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range missiles from the United States for $431 million
See more here.

Australia and Japan are strengthening defence ties with the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement. The military agreement provides the legal framework for greater defence cooperation between the ADF and Japan Self-Defense Force. See more here.
The ADF fired a remote weapon system from an Australian Army M113AS4 armoured logistics vehicle during human-machine team exercise at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria, on 7 June this year. See more here.
Defence promotes STEM careers during National Science Week. With nearly half of ADF roles requiring STEM knowledge, opportunities for Australia’s future STEM and Defence workforces were highlighted during the launch of National Science Week. See more here.
Attached is the TDA 2023 Calendar.

Other News

Applications are open for the Innovate to Grow: Cyber Security and Digital Technology program. Innovate to Grow is a free 10-week virtual, self-paced learning program for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). See more here
$40.2 million has been committed for the Critical technologies Challenge Program to drive greater awareness and uptake of quantum technologies in Australia. See more here.
Navantia Australia has been engaged by the Australian Government as the platform systems designer as part of the DDG platform systems design contract. See more here.
Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O’Connor visits Navantia Australia’s Design and Engineering Centre in Melbourne. The centre focuses on developing the Navy’s future maritime capabilities and delivering through-life support for warships in service with Navy. See more here.
A fifth student has been chosen as part of the first cohort for the National Indigenous Space Academy, based at Monash University and supported by the Australian Space Agency and NASA, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration. See more here.
RSL Australia has called for the creation of a National Office for Defence and Veteran Wellbeing led by an independent commissioner, responsible for overseeing the implementation of recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. See more here.
Gippsland manufacturing business, LV Shade & Shutters, expanded its footprint with the new manufacturing and rerail site in Traralgon. The project is part of the Victorian government’s investment of over $41 billion across rural and regional Victoria since 2015. See more here.
Titomic continues to expand in Europe with the receipt of a purchase order from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces for a D523 low-pressure cold spray system. See more here.
Hanwha Defense Australia has brought together Australian and South Korean industry to pitch its autonomous VenomX logistics concept the ADF. VenomX Australian partners are 4Zero Technologies, Eclips Logistics, Deakin University and Visionary Machines. See more here.
HDR has appointed Tim Napper as the defence principal to lead its growing defence sector across Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra following the new AUKUS alliance and 2023 Strategic Review. See more here.
AROSE and the Robotics Australia Group will help connect and grow Australia’s maturing robotics ecosystem. The companies will work with a range of stakeholders across industry, State and Federal governments, research institutions, and fellow industry associations. See more here.
The Australian Government has announced the Board of the National Reconstruction Fund, a $15 billion investment in Australian manufacturing capacity that was announced in October last year. 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:

Reoccurring 2023 - Soldier On Coffee Catch Up Victoria. See more here
7 September 2023 - Melbourne Space Workforce and Industry Drinks. See more here.

18 - 20 September 2023 - SIA Submarine Science, Technology and Engineering Conference. See more here.
21 September 2023 – Australian Defence Industry Awards. See more here.
26 – 28 September 2023 - Australian Information Warfare: Beyond the Strategic Review. See more here.
8 November 2023 – Maritime Environment Working Group Conference. See more here.
7 - 9 November 2023 - 2023 Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition. See more here.
27 November 2023 - Defence Artificial Intelligence Symposium. See more here.
4 - 6 December 2023 - Defence Human Sciences Symposium. See more here.

Links to Grants and other Programs:

Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants - CRC-P Round 15

CRC-P Round 15 was opened by The Hon Ed Husic MP, Minster for Industry and Science on 3 August 2023 and will close at 17:00 AEST on 14 September 2023.

The Round is open to all industry sectors however will have a focus on supporting projects in line with Government priorities, including the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas and the Science and Research priorities. Applications that have a focus on the circular economy are also particularly encouraged.

Funding will be available from January 2024.

Read more >

The Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program will support Victorian defence industry businesses to work with Hanwha Defense Australia (Hanwha) as part of its supply chain. The program will help build businesses’ capabilities so they can help Hanwha deliver the Commonwealth Government’s $1 billion Land 8116 Self-Propelled Howitzer program.

Funding will support eligible Victorian businesses to:

gain relevant accreditations and meet industry specific compliance requirements
prepare tenders
undertake minor facilities upgrades and equipment fit outs
develop new or enhance current defence products or services
undertake defence R&D
participate in trade missions to pursue collaboration and export opportunities.

Businesses must engage with Hanwha and receive its support before applying.

Applications to the Victorian Land Systems Fund Supply Chain Uplift Program are now open and close on 30 June 2024 or when funds have been exhausted, whichever comes first.

Australian Space Industry Capability Database

The Australian Space Industry Capability database will open for industry submissions from mid-July. Companies can upload information on their:

• Location

• Capability

• Workforce

The database has been developed by SIAA and is supported by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Australian Space Agency, the Office of Defence Industry Support and SmartSat CRC.

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.

ODIS provides a range of grants to support defence industry businesses. These grants help Australian small and medium enterprises grow to meet Defence capability needs and join global defence industry supply chains.

Click here to learn more about available grants

The ODIS Defence Business Readiness Tool (DBRT) is a platform used by our Industry Engagement Team to assess the Defence Readiness of Australian Small and Medium Enterprises. The DBRT is the first step in the journey to becoming a supplier to Defence.

To use this secure tool you must have an account. You can either sign in with an existing account or create a new one. You will need to provide your Australian Business Number (ABN) when registering your account.

Get Defence Ready with DBRT 2.0 and unlock the true potential of your SME within the Defence industry!