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Local industry will have more opportunities to benefit from Defence infrastructure projects as part of the Turnbull Government’s expanded Local Industry Capability Plan pilot program announced by Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Senator for Queensland Ian Macdonald today. 

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today announced the creation of the Minister for Defence Visiting Fellowship in Women, Peace and Security at UNSW Canberra, located at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Speaking at the Women in National Security Conference at the Australian National University National Security College, Minister Payne said the establishment of the Fellowship supports Defence’s active participation in the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, welcomed the signing of an innovation collaboration agreement between Minelab Electronics and the Department of Defence today. The collaboration will deliver a production-ready prototype of a new Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Handheld Detector for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “This is a perfect example of leveraging world class engineering from an Australian enterprise to produce the lightest, most compact, and most capable ground search device available anywhere”, Minister Pyne said.

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, met with US Secretary for Defense Ashton Carter, other senior US Defence officials including Ray Mabus, US Secretary of Navy and Frank Kendall, US Under Secretary of Defense of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and industry executives to highlight the strength of Australian industry, discussing opportunities for collaboration.

The Minister for Defence Industry has received advice from the Department of Defence  that what is reported to have taken place in regards to the DCNS project in India has no bearing on the Australian Government’s Future Submarine Program. The Future Submarine Program operates under stringent security requirements that govern the manner in which all information and technical data is managed now and into the future.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia has signed its first Global Supply Chain Agreement today, which will provide Australian companies greater access to international supply chains. The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said he was pleased to announce Rheinmetall Defence Australia was joining the Global Supply Chain Program. “Australia has many innovative and world leading capabilities,” Minister Pyne said.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP announced today that Defence has signed a contract that will provide Australian soldiers with a back-pack electronic surveillance system. Mr Pyne said the acquisition contract signed with Victorian company Chemring Australia is valued at $18 million and will supply up to 50 back-pack electronic surveillance systems to be delivered during the first 18 months of the contract.

Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today met with key Defence related companies based in Cairns, Queensland, to discuss the opportunities for local industry in the delivery of Australia’s Defence capability. The Minister visited BAE Systems Australia and was briefed on the support they provide to the Royal Australian Navy. He also toured Norship Marine’s vessel maintenance and storage facility and Tropical Reef Shipyard’s ship repair facilities to see first-hand the important work they do to maintain Royal Australian Navy vessels based in the region.

Thank you very much Rob to you and to everyone gathered here this morning, thank you very much for that comprehensive introduction. It’s a great pleasure to be here at the National Defense Industrial Association Conference and it’s serendipitous that the quadrilateral will be meeting here while I’m also in Washington.

Australian companies now have an innovative way to get involved in the multi-billion dollar LAND 400 Phase 2 armoured vehicle program. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, announced a new Australian Industry Opportunity Roadmap which helps Australian companies cash in on the work available. “Australian industry involvement is at the centre of the Government’s plans for the project,” Minister Pyne said.

The Australian Government has been notified by the Australian Submarine Corporation of a reduction to its workforce today as the resources and skills required to complete Air Warfare Destroyers enter a different phase. Like any major project, the requirements of this workforce has changed over time. While this slowdown is unfortunate, it is the direct result of six years of no decisions and no plan for naval shipbuilding by Labor. The Turnbull Coalition Government has recognised this and for the first time in our history has committed to a continuous shipbuilding strategy.

Today marks the successful completion of ship builder sea trials for the future Air Warfare Destroyer Hobart, at Techport Australia in Adelaide. The Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP said this achievement is a significant milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer Project and the nation, and demonstrates the capacity of Australia’s sovereign defence industry to build and integrate ships for our specific defence needs.

Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced seven Australian organisations would receive Australian Government funding of $14.7 million to develop and demonstrate innovative technologies to enhance Defence capability, as part of the Government’s $1.6 billion investment in defence innovation. This multi-million dollar investment will support Australian industry and universities to research and develop innovative technologies that have great potential for Defence application.

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today attended the first meeting of the Centre for Defence Industry Capability Advisory Board in Adelaide. The Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), which will be based in Adelaide, was announced earlier this year as a cornerstone initiative of the 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement. Minister Pyne said the Board comprises representatives from private industry, industry groups and Defence, and provides guidance and strategic direction for the CDIC, transforming the Defence-industry relationship.

In a major win for the nation’s defence industry, Australia has been chosen to provide Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade for the componentry of the Joint Strike Fighter in the Asia Pacific Region worth approximately $100 million to our economy, creating and sustaining hundreds if not thousands of jobs. The successful announcement comes after a trip to Washington DC by the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, who met with key Pentagon officials to push Australia’s case.

  Australia’s already world leading over the horizon radar will be enhanced to provide even better security for Australia while supporting hundreds of jobs in Adelaide and regional Australia. BAE Systems Australia will undertake a significant upgrade to Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) which detects and tracks air and maritime targets from Australia’s northern approaches. 

  Australia’s already world leading over the horizon radar will be enhanced to provide even better security for Australia while supporting hundreds of jobs in Adelaide and regional Australia. BAE Systems Australia will undertake a significant upgrade to Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) which detects and tracks air and maritime targets from Australia’s northern approaches. 

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced $659 million in funding at RAAF Base Edinburgh to support the cutting edge anti-submarine and surveillance plane, the P-8A Poseidon.Defence will invest $250 million in a Boeing training simulator system at RAAF Base Edinburgh, and $409 million to improve base facilities for full operations, estimated for completion by early 2019.  

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced $659 million in funding at RAAF Base Edinburgh to support the cutting edge anti-submarine and surveillance plane, the P-8A Poseidon.Defence will invest $250 million in a Boeing training simulator system at RAAF Base Edinburgh, and $409 million to improve base facilities for full operations, estimated for completion by early 2019.

Project AIR 5431 Phase 1 Deployable Defence Air Traffic Management and Control System and Project AIR 5431 Phase 3 Civil Military Air Traffic Management System have been added to the Projects of Concern list. Although the projects are under the same program, there is no dependency between the two and their inclusion on the Projects of Concern list is unrelated.

Australia’s new Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicles have deployed into a warzone for the first time. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the Army had successfully deployed two Hawkei vehicles into the Middle East Region, as part of a Defence trial. Minister Payne said the trial vehicles were sent to Iraq’s Taji Military Complex to test their sustainability overseas and their ability to deploy to and from an operational area.

The Australian Defence Force will have the most up to date night fighting equipment available after the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne today announced the project has been given the green light. Mr Pyne said the first tranche of Night Fighting Equipment will see our military supplied with new state of the art night vision goggles, helmet mounts, head harnesses and laser aiming devices.

The Turnbull Government has given workers at Osborne an early Christmas present.  The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann today announced a workforce package that will bolster jobs and skilling for Australia’s current and future naval shipbuilders.  “Australia’s future shipbuilding and sustainment workforce is at the very heart of success for Australia’s naval shipbuilding enterprise,” Minister Pyne said. 

Nine manufacturers in South Australia will share in $15.4 million to boost their high value manufacturing capability as part of the Turnbull Government’s $90 million Next Generation Manufacturing Investment Programme. The second round of funding under the programme will help firms in South Australia and Victoria to undertake capital projects to support technological innovation, expand capability and develop state-of-the-art processes and equipment.

The Australian Defence Export Office and Austrade have taken the first steps towards delivering enhanced export support for Australian defence businesses, signing a Memorandum of Understanding to engage dedicated local industry experts in key export markets.

The way wars are fought on the modern battlefield will be revolutionised with a new Battlefield Command System for the Army. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne today announced the approval of the Land 200 Tranche 2 Project. Worth up to $1.4 billion, the project will enhance the Australian Defence Force’s digital command, control and communications systems and support hundreds of local jobs.

The way wars are fought on the modern battlefield will be revolutionised with a new Battlefield Command System for the Army. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne today announced the approval of the Land 200 Tranche 2 Project. Worth up to $1.4 billion, the project will enhance the Australian Defence Force’s digital command, control and communications systems and support hundreds of local jobs.

The Government has today unveiled the design and turned the first sod for the new surface shipbuilding yard in Osborne, South Australia. This is the latest in a series of significant infrastructure announcements supporting the delivery of a continuous naval shipbuilding program in Australia. The unveiling of the design for this $535 million project is an exciting insight into the future of Osborne’s shipyards that is a result of this Government’s $89 billion investment in our future shipbuilding industry.

Magill-based Supashock will receive a $468,887 commercialisation grant under the Entrepreneurs’ Programme to develop its dynamic suspension technology for armoured and protected defence vehicles produced by a major German manufacturer. Supashock will work with German military vehicle builder Rheinmetall Defence to adapt its innovative range of suspension products for installation on the vehicles it produces for the world market.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces to discuss opportunities for Australian defence exports. “I am honoured to meet with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to reaffirm the strength of Australia’s relationship with the UAE and to discuss how we can further build our interaction in the field of defence industry, including enhanced Australian defence exports,” Minister Pyne said.