Latest News from ADA-Vic

Thank you to Anne Munro and the Thales team for hosting ADA members yesterday for a briefing and networking morning tea.

There were a number of informal briefings from key people at Thales providing members with updates on Thales projects and plans. We were very fortunate to be given a demonstration of the OneSKY Air Traffic Management System.

We would also like to thank our members for coming along to this informative event and making it the success that it was. We looking forward to hosting more events like this the future!

Defence Imposes Moratorium on Industry Hirings

The Department of Defence has imposed at short notice a moratorium on contracting of recently separated Defence personnel by defence industry.

Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell and Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty have stated in a joint directive document that any Australian Public Service (APS) or full- or part-time members of the ADF (SERCAT 6 & 7) who have separated in the past 12 months can only be contracted by defence industry “by exception”.The moratorium came into effect on 7 August and has been put in place to reduce Defence's reliance on contractors and consultants.

The moratorium does not effect ‘above the line’ contracts that came into effect before 7 August.

Government to Build First Dedicated Coating Facility at Newcastle Airport

The Government will build an Aircraft Coating Facility at Newcastle Airport to maintain the stealth of Australia’s fleet of F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

At Australia’s first dedicated coating facility, a specialised paint will be applied to the aircraft to ensure they are virtually invisible to an adversary’s radar. This work is vital for Australia’s air combat capability.

The new facility is being established in partnership with BAE Systems Australia, which is responsible for the maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade activities for Australia’s fleet of 63 F-35A aircraft, which is being expanded to 72.

Establishing the facility will create up to 25 new local ongoing jobs, which will be integral to the larger team of around 360 local workers that already sustain the F-35As at Newcastle Airport.

The design for the coating facility is due to be finalised by the end of this year, with construction expected to start around mid-2024. It is expected to cost more than $100 million and involve more than 100 local jobs in the construction phase.

Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Request for Information (RFI)

Dear Innovators,

The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) is calling on Australian industry and research providers to submit responses to a Request for Information (RFI) regarding sovereign un-crewed aerial systems (UAS) and trusted autonomy capabilities. Defence seeks to support this sovereign industrial capability, particularly focussing on small, general-purpose systems that can be produced at scale.

Responses to this RFI will inform Defence’s approach to developing this capability. You can access the AusTender listing here to access and lodge an RFI.

The RFI will close 21 August 2023 at 4:30pm AEST.

For further information regarding ASCA please visit www.defence.gov.au/asca. For any enquiries, please contact ASCA at ASCA.Enquiries@defence.gov.au

From Defence:

Defence has imposed a moratorium on contracting of recently separated Defence personnel by defence industry. The moratorium came into effect 7 August, Chief of Defence Force and Defence Secretary have directed that any Australian Public Service or full- or part-time members of the ADF (SERCAT 6 & 7) who have separated in the past 12 months can only be contracted by industry “by exception”. See more here.
Defence has released a request for information (RFI) and ideas leading to the development of a small, capable, and sovereign drone system to be developed and manufactured in Australia. FRI close 4:30pm AEST 21 August 2023. See more here.
The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator is seeking Australian industry and research providers to submit responses to an RFI regarding sovereign un-crewed aerial systems and trusted autonomy capabilities before 4:30pm AEST 21 August. See more here.
The ADF will acquire 84 next-generation Mobile Retransmission Systems from Melbourne-based Luminact in partnership with REDARC Defence & Space. Delivery expected to be completed by 2025. See more here.
Australia and the United States have stepped up their co-operation in the establishment of second source manufacturing capabilities for guided weapons in Australia. See more here.
Attached is the TDA 2023 Calendar.

Other News

Saab Australia has opened its expanded Melbourne office to accommodate the rapid growth of its Victorian workforce and support the successful delivery of major defence and security projects. See more here.
Marand and US-based Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) combine in components for nuclear submarines. Marand will manufacture and service FMD components, gaining FMD’s expertise in the world’s predominant nuclear navy, according to the companies. See more here.
Australian mining equipment manufacturer Elphinstone has successfully bid with Hanwha to be part of the multi-billion Land 400 Phase 3 program to supply infantry fighting vehicles for the Australian Army. See more here.
In a $5 billion deal, EOS along with local manufacturers armour steel manufacturer Bisalloy and heavy equipment manufacturer Elphinstone are among the biggest local winners in Hanwha’s Australian supply chain of 100 companies. See more here.
SPEE3D has successfully participated in Annual US Marines Corps Integrated Training Exercise 4-23, printing on-demand parts in the field to support critical defence operations. See more here.
Australian small businesses participating in Boeing Australia’s first Capability Up-Lift Program have graduated with seven Boeing contracts, including agreements with three new suppliers. See more here.
Lovitt Technologies was awarded a $1.5 million Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program – Production and Modernisation grant. The grant will help fund next-generation machining centre, training for staff, and upgrades to equipment and software. See more here.
Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants are now open and will close at 5:00pm AEST on 14 September 2023. See more here.
Boosting women in STEM Elevate Program applications are now open and will close 5:00pm AEST 31 August 2023. See more here.
Melbourne Airport has bolstered its cyber security with upgrades to DDoS protections and more. See more here.
The UK Department of Business and Trade are hosting a Space Export Academy in December 2023. The program will offer Australian businesses the opportunity to gain insight from space industry experts and government partners on how to export to the UK. To submit an EOI 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.
23 August 2023 - Cooperative Research Australia information session. See more here.
24 August 2023 – Victorian Defence Space Network Information Evening. See more here.
29 August 2023 - Army Innovation Day. See more here.
29 – 30 August 2023 - Quantum Technology Challenge. 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!