Latest News from ADA-Vic

Our courageous service men and women continue to mobilise and train for missions near and far.

Some of our soldiers from Brisbane’s 7th Combat Brigade have recently joined partner forces from the United States Army, British Army and Canadian Army for Joint Warfighting Assessment 2021 (JWA 21) at Fort Carson, in Colorado, United States of America, more here.

Main picture below depicts an Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Tank being transported on a Light Landing Craft, during Exercise Sea Explorer. Almost 1800 soldiers, sailors and aviators aboard HMAS Canberra and Choules practiced amphibious landings of soldiers, vehicles and equipment onto Cowley Beach in North-eastern Queensland from 2-15 June, 2021

Hi there,

As FY21 comes to a close, we all look to the year ahead with anticipation.

More projects will be released from Defence and the Primes. More companies will be needed to fill the supply chains.

...now is the time for you to act on or develop relationships within the Defence industry, if you are not already.

In the new financial year we'll have more events to help you understand what's happening in the Defence industry and hopefully get back to some physical networking!

If you need support through this time or 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 Defence:

The Defence Innovation Hub has let 194 contracts worth around $350 million since its inception, with $110 million in contracts let it FY 2021-22. 88 percent of these contract are with SMEs
Defence Industry Division has established a small economic analysis team headed by Mr Josh Saunder, formerly of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Key focus of this teams is to:

Develop a better picture of the nexus between defence spending and economic outcomes
Identify the structural strengths and weakness of the defence industry sector and barriers to entry to better focus Commonwealth investment in the sector to create a long-term sustainable sector

Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise:

The aim of the program is to establish a more self-reliance for guided weapons and explosive ordnance in Australia.
It is comprised of seven capability elements:

Research and development
Test and evaluation
Storage and distribution
Maintenance
Disposal and demilitarisation
Training and education
Manufacturing

Planning is in progress, including industry consultation, to develop an implementation plan by the end of the year for Commonwealth Government consideration.

There are likely to be several industry partners.
The intent is to leverage existing facilities and capabilities.
Commercial models need to deliver a long-term sustainable outcome that also provides flexibility for growth.
Will consider co-investment with states and territories where that is appropriate.

The Major Service Provider system review is almost finished and a report will be provided to the Minister for Defence Industry soon.
Hon Melissa Price speaks about new shipbuilding jobs portal, "a game changer for jobseekers", more here
Army has released its Quantum Technology Roadmap, more here
D+I Conference and Awards 28-29 July 2021, more to come shortly, 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
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
Defence has released the 2021 Australian Defence Sales Catalogue. The catalogue includes a large number of Victorian businesses, 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, 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, more here... and also the Modern Manufacturing Initiative - Manufacturing Integration Grant Program for the Defence sector is now open, more here

Funding and Program Announcements:

Victorian Government
Jobs Victoria Fund
Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC)
Defence Science Institute (DSI)
Defence Innovation Hub (DIH)
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 (EFA)
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:

Hanwha teams with Elphinstone for the manufacture of hulls for the Redback vehicle, more here
Ticket are now available for the ADM’s Women in Defence Awards Gala Dinner on 30 July 2021, more here
A number of Victorian businesses and individuals featured in Space Connect’s Australian Space Awards 2021:

Melbourne Space Program’s Steven Despotellis won Graduate of the Year
Swinburn’s Alan Duffy won Academic of the Year
Boeing Research and Technology Australia won Research and Development Business of the Year
More here

Agent Oriented Software partners with Raytheon on enhanced battlespace management capability, more here
Anywise partners with Athene AI to develop a vision-based Health and Usage Monitoring System, more here
Glen Ferrarotto founder of Ironside Recruiting, which support veterans to find employment, speaks on a Defence Connect Podcast, listen here
Leonardo Australia has announced that it will tender for project SEA 1442 Phase 5 – Maritime Communications Modernisation, more here
Expressions of Interest are open to Exhibit at the 2021 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (Avalon 2021). The Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) will once again have a large exhibition pavilion at AVALON 2021, with the aim of promoting Victoria's strengths in the Aviation, Defence, Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing industries
The Victorian Government has announced support packages to assist SMEs and sole traders unable to operate during the COVID restrictions now in place, more here
The Victorian Government announces recent support for Sypaq and Moog, and significant investment in the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct, more here
Victorian businesses Spee3D and DefendTex and Victorian Dr Brodie McDonald feature in the Land Forces Innovation Awards, more here
Another SME Collaboration between Anywise Consulting and Athena AI delivers sovereign data-driven sustainment solution, more here
UNEEK Bending Co has received a Defence Global Competitiveness Grant, more here
Mackay Rubber is confirmed as a supply chain partner on the Hunter Frigate program, more here
Thales Australia and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems have entered into an agreement to enhance Thales’s munitions capability, more here
The Prime Minister visited Aquaterro on 20 May 2021, 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, more here
Victorian companies, Leonardo Australia and Advanced Technology Testing and Research have entered into a strategic partnership, more here
Kinexus has published a report on defence industry hiring intentions, more here
AVT Australia launches a new imaging system for small UAVs, more here
Australian Defence Apparel unveils future ready apparel systems at Land Forces, more here
ANCA Engineering Solutions has been selected by Hanwha as part of its Land 400 Phase 3 supply chain, 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, more here
The Australian Simulation Congress is scheduled to take place 9 to 11 November 2021, more here
Australian Defence Industry Awards are open for nomination now, 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, more here
DARPA Opportunity – In-Pixel Intelligence Processing invitation to submit research concepts, more here
US Department of Defense Opportunity – Advancement of Technologies for use by Special Forces, more here
US Army Research Office Opportunity – LPS Qubit Collaboratory, 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