Latest Defence News from ADA-Vic

Hi there,

Lights, Camera, Action!

It's ramping up to be an exciting week in Brisbane for many Defence focussed businesses; unfortunately not for many Victorians... with the announcement of another lockdown today, travel restrictions are also imminent.

The message from the Government is "Get Vaccinated"!

Eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccinations has changed again today allowing anyone between 40-49 years old to get the Pfizer vaccine and staff employed in the Defence Industry.

COVID-19 vaccine for Defence Industry (link here - see if you're eligible).

From Gov & Defence

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
The Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group staff will be able to undertake work placements with defence industry. See more here
The Commonwealth Government has committed $1 billion to a Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise and will seek a strategic partner to operate a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability. See more here
The Commonwealth Government has expanded the range of skilling activities that can be funded under the Skilling Australian Defence Industry program. See more here and here
Defence has made $25 billion in accelerated payments as a COVID support measure since mid last year. Defence is developing options for the cessation of this initiative
Team Defence Australia is planning to take a delegation to Sea, Air, Space, in Washington USA from 1-4 August 2021. For more information on how to sign up see 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

ATTAR and Leonardo announce a strategic partnership at Leonardo’s state-of-the-art facility 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

Air Marshal Warren McDonald AO, CSC (Retired) replaces Jon North as CEO of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand. See more here
Mr Lilian Brayal has been appointed as Naval Group’s Executive Vice-President for the Future Submarine Program. See more here
Hanwha has signed an MOU with Deakin University to support collaboration across machine learning. Student experience and artificial intelligence> See more here
The Victorian Defence Industry Advocate, John ‘Johnno’ O’Callaghan opens Moog’s facility expansion. See more here
Australian Defence Business Review’s March-April 2021 edition is available online, with a Victorian advertisement at page 28. See more here
The Australian Defence Industry Awards are now open for nominations. Nominate a company, association, university or a colleague now here
RUAG will take part in the Defence Industry Secondment Program, more here
Ascent Vision Technologies’ camera gimbal has been selected for incorporation into the UAS being acquired under LAND 129 Phase 3 for which Textron is one of the shortlisted tenderers, more here
The May 2021 Defence Technology Review can be found here
EOIs are open for the DSI’s Land Force’s PitchFest. See more here
The DSI is calling for proposals in support of a $1million initiative to advance the development of prototypes for enhanced resilience against chemical and biological threats. See more here
The Avalon Airshow has been deferred a week and it will now run 30 November to 5 December 2021, more here
DefendTex Military Products has received a Defence Global Competitiveness Grant to acquire and install an injection moulding line. See more here
Call out for proposals for the Defence Science Institute Hazardous Agent Challenge. See more here
The latest edition of Defence Technology Review can be found here
Lockheed Martin’s STELaRLab wins a contract to develop an integrated systems that can detect and neutralise improvised threats. See more here
Simulation Australasia, Unconference and the Women in Simulation groups are delivering a ‘Women In’ Unconference Series. Register here
Thales Subsidiary, Australian Munitions, achieves $30 million in munitions exports in 2020. See more here
AME Systems becomes an accredited supplier to Northrop Grumman. See more here and here
AOS Group has been selected too participate in Raytheon’s Capability Plus program. See more here
The Naval Shipbuilding College will soon give SMEs access to its Workforce Register. This will provide SMEs access to a list of qualified people seeking employment in the sector

ATTAR’s strategic partnership with Leonardo ensures the Australian Defence Force has the sovereign capability within ATTAR to support its helicopter fleet at Leonardo’s state-of-the-art helicopter Main Gearbox Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facility at Fishermans Bend.

The NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) testing will be delivered by ATTAR, Australia’s most extensive and recognised NDT training and testing provider with highly skilled staff who have supported the Australian Defence Force for over 30 years.

Melbourne, 22 April 2021 – ATTAR has announced today that it has partnered with Leonardo Australia to develop advanced NDT services at Leonardo centre of excellence in Melbourne, Australia. The state-of-the-art facility located at Fishermans bend is a joint investment with the Commonwealth of Australia.

The facility will be responsible for supporting the Australian Defence Force as well as other significant clients such as the Victoria Police.

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