A South Australian company enlisted by Defence to help in the fight against COVID-19 is among three Australian companies that have received funding from the Morrison Government to ramp up their involvement in the global F-35 program.

Family-owned Axiom has secured more than $800,000 to purchase new technical equipment and train staff in its operation.

Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price said it was an example of how Australia’s defence industry is getting on with the job of building our defence capability, despite the challenging conditions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Axiom recently joined forces with Defence to rapidly produce face shields for frontline health workers,” Minister Price said.

“This demonstrated the highly-advanced manufacturing capacity we have in our defence industry and why it’s important to invest in these capabilities.

“The funding we’re providing Axiom will enable them to invest in new equipment to ramp up their involvement in the F-35 program, which leads to the creation of more local jobs and opportunities in their supply chain.”

So far, 50 Australian companies have shared in almost $1.8 billion in the production of the F-35 Program, employing over 2,400 Australian workers.

The grants announced today include:

• South Australian-based NuMetric (trading as Axiom) has been awarded $809,998 to purchase a five-axis three metre vertical computer numerical control machine, and to train staff in its operation.
• Victorian-based Moog has been awarded $250,000 to undertake a study and capability gap analysis to prepare for the sustainment phase of the F-35 Global Support Solution. This analysis is the first step towards Moog becoming a qualified repair source for sustainment under the F-35 Program.
• Victorian-based A.W. Bell has been awarded $250,000 to invest at its Dandenong South casting and production facility, to improve competitiveness and reduce risk for the F-35 global supply chain.

The grants were awarded under the New Air Combat Capability – Industry Support Program. It supports the development of new or improved capabilities that enhance Australian industry’s ability to win work in production, sustainment and follow-on development phases of the F-35 Program.