Latest News from ADA-Vic

Hi Juanita,

ADA-Vic welcomes last week's announcement of the new federal cabinet. In particular we would like to mention the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Defence Industry.

As Victorians, we are delighted to welcome the new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, who is also from Victoria. We look forward to working with the new Defence Ministry and hope to have the Ministers attend an ADA event in the not too distant future, so that they can meet ADA members and hear from Victorian SMEs working in Defence Industry.

The Hon Richard Marles MP
Deputy Prime Minister | Minister for Defence

The Hon. Richard Marles MP is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Minister for Defence and the Federal Member for Corio, Victoria.

Richard was first elected to the House of Representatives for Corio, Victoria in 2007.

Richard's previous ministerial appointments include Minister of Trade, Minister for Employment, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, and Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Affairs.

Born in 1967, Richard was raised and educated in Geelong and went on to study Law and Science, achieving a LLB (Hons) and a BSc from the University of Melbourne.

Richard lives in Geelong with his wife Rachel and has four children, Sam, Isabella, Harvey and Georgia.

He is a devoted Geelong Cats supporter, golf fanatic, a keen photographer, a snowdome collector and local history enthusiast.

The Hon Pat Conroy MP
Minister for Defence Industry

The Hon. Pat Conroy MP is the Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for International Development and the Pacific and the Federal Member for Shortland, New South Wales.

Pat was first elected to the House of Representatives for Charlton, New South Wales, 2013. He was the elected to the House of Representatives for Shortland, New South Wales, 2016, following electoral redistribution.

Born in 1979 in Sydney, Pat moved to the Central Coast of New South Wales when he was one year old Conroy attended Ettalong Public School and Gosford High School. Conroy holds the degree of Bachelor of Economics (Hons.) from the University of Sydney.

Pat lives in Lake Macquarie with his wife, Keara, and their two children. He enjoys cooking and watching rugby league.

The Hon Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs | Minister for Defence Personnel

The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP
Assistant Minister for Defence | Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

The Hon Clare O’Neil MP
Minister for Home Affairs | Minister for Cyber Security

AusTSEC Training and Simulation Conference
to Launch at Land Forces 2022

LAND FORCES 2022 will feature the first Australian Training, Simulation and Education Conference (AusTSEC), with defence training and simulation experts sharing their views on the future of training in the Australian Defence Force.

As a new addition to its comprehensive conference program, Land Forces 2022 will be the first to host the new Australian Training, Simulation and Education Conference (AusTSEC).

To be staged in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Simulation Alliance (APSA), the conference will host leaders in defence training and simulation who will share their vision for the future of training in the ADF.

Simulation is becoming a critical element in training at every level and in every discipline, from medical assistance to strategic logistics, vehicle operation and weapons training. But creation of effective simulation depends on a clear picture of operational and training needs and desired outcomes.

AusTSEC will explore how training needs inform development of simulation technology and systems, and will detail recent innovations in capability and application. Leading industry experts in training and simulation will join defence and other NGO international workforces to address the multi-national audience.

If you are interested in being involved in the AusTSEC conference as a speaker, sponsor or provider, LAND FORCES 2022 organiser AMDA Foundation wants to hear from you.

From Defence: 

New Defence Ministers appointed (See more here.) including:

Minister for Defence: Richard Marles MP
Minister for Defence Industry: Pat Conroy MP
Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel: Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Cyber Security: Claire O’Neil MP
Assistant Minister for Defence: Matt Thistlethwaite MP

Defence has announced a new partnership with global tech company Andruil to design and develop extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles (XLAUVs), part of DSTG’s Remote Undersea Surveillance STaR Shot. See more here

Other News:  

The Republic of Korea Army has completed 6-week long trial of the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which is expected to be a strong basis for international sales and marketing for the vehicle. See more here.  
Monash University students will compete in Utah against 36 global teams from 11 countries in the University Rover Challenge, the only team from the Southern Hemisphere to qualify for entry. See more here.   
SPEE3D, headquartered in Melbourne and Darwin, has been chosen to participate in MaintenX, a US Navy maintenance technology exercise. See more here. 
Lockheed Martin Australia has appointed Ken Kota to lead the newly created Australian Defence Strategic Capabilities Office, which will oversee the company’s contribution to Defence’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise (GWEO). See more here.
The US Government has approved the sale of Lockheed Martin’s HIMARS rocket systems to Australia. This $545 million acquisition is in line with the Defence Strategic Update, Force Structure Plan and Land 8113 Phase 1 – Long-Range Fires program. See more here and here.  
HSSA (Health Security Systems Australia) is currently seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for collaborative project proposals in medical countermeasures on their website.
Nominations are now open for the Defence Connect Australian Defence Industry Awards which will be held on 15 September 2022. See more here.
Attached is information about the 20 – 22 July 2022 ADSTAR program.  
Attached is an ADM’s list of Defence tenders.

Victorian Common User Facility 

If industry requires access to secure communications facilities to engage with Defence, this can be provided through the Victorian Common User Facility.

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: 

15 June 2022 – Trusted Autonomous Systems 2022 Symposium. See more here. 
22 June 2022 – ADM Congress. See more here. 
20 - 22 July 2022 – Australian Defence Science and Technology Research Summit (ADSTAR). See more here. 
26-27 July 2022 – Beyond Transits: The Emerging Security Relevance of the Indian Ocean. See more here.  
15 August 2022 – ADM STEM in Defence Summit. See more here.   
6 October 2022 – Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition. See more here. 
11 - 17 November 2022 – Maritime RobotX Challenge. See more here. 
28 February – 5 March 2023 – Australian International Aerospace & Defence Exposition (28 February – 3 March) and the Australian International Airshow (3-5 March). See more here.

Links to Grant and other Programs: 

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.

BAE Systems Hunter Class Opportunities

BAE Systems Maritime Australia’s Innovation team is seeking Expressions of Interest from industry to support the Hunter Class Frigate Program (HCFP) to:

Investigate manufacturing technologies, materials, coatings, and processes with the potential to improve the sail away performance of the nine Hunter class frigates;
Investigate infrastructure, the workforce, and shipyard capabilities to ensure the Osborne Naval Shipyard maintains high levels of productivity, quality and safety; and,
Investigate ongoing maintenance or future capability upgrades that may immediately influence the design and delivery of the nine Hunter Frigates to be built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.

The team will evaluate submissions quarterly - with feedback - until June 2022.

Each EOI reviewed by the Hunter Innovation Team may be considered for future steps including a Request for Information (RFI) and/or Request for Proposal (RFP). This may lead to a an agreement for a scope of work which could be in the form of a Research Task, Case Study; Feasibility Studies; Proof of Concept; Prototyping; or other agreed scope of work.