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The battlefield training of our soldiers has been given a major boost with eight new Digital Terminal Control System simulators coming online next year. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced a $40 million contract with Rockwell Collins Australia to supply the simulators. Minister Pyne said the contract includes operator and maintenance support and built on the acquisition of three interim systems in March this year, with 80 per cent of the contract value to be spent in Australia.

Joint media release:  Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Science and Technology, the Hon Melissa Price MP The Morrison Government will create 80 new jobs in the NSW Hunter region by signing a $41 million contract with a local company that will strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s deployable infrastructure capability.

Joint Media Release:  Senator for Victoria, Senator James Paterson The Morrison Government has awarded a Victorian company a $5.4 million contract to develop an innovative, deployable micro-grid that will help address an increase in the demand for power in the modern battlefield. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price welcomed the Government’s investment in QinetiQ, which has partnered with the University of Melbourne to develop its unique technology.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced five Defence Innovation Hub innovation contracts totalling $5.9 million. Minister Pyne said this investment demonstrated the government’s commitment to supporting local Defence industry while developing new capabilities.

The Turnbull Government continues to deliver in Defence Innovation with the launch of the first $50 million Defence Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), announced today by the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP. The Defence CRC is a collaborative program that brings together academia, publicly funded research agencies, industry (particularly small to medium enterprises) to create an interlocking research and innovation capability that is focused on driving a Defence outcome. 

Ahead of the second anniversary of Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion, the Albanese Government will provide a $50 million grant to the International Fund for Ukraine, directly supporting the procurement of priority military capabilities. The International Fund for Ukraine is administered by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. It uses international partners’ contributions to procure priority military equipment for Ukraine and ensure the continued supply of military support – lethal and non-lethal –through 2024 and beyond.

Minister for Defence Industry & Minister for Defence - Joint Media Release The Turnbull Government has announced a $500 million investment to improve Australia’s space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, to support ADF operations around the world and at home to secure our borders.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today announced the Government would match private investment to fund an expedition to search for the First World War submarine, HMAS AE1. Minister Payne said the government would provide $500,000 to allow Find AE1 Limited to proceed in its attempt to find the submarine and its crew. “HMAS AE1 is one of the world’s great maritime mysteries and this expedition will be one of the most comprehensive searches for the submarine,” Minister Payne said.

Tasmania’s economy is set for a major $57.4 million boost after the Morrison Government approved a significant upgrade to the nation’s oldest Australian Army barracks. The Anglesea Paterson Project includes significant upgrades to infrastructure and facilities at Hobart’s Anglesea Barracks, as well as a new facility and redevelopment of defence infrastructure in Launceston. The improvements in Anglesea, an investment of $17.7 million, will ensure the Barracks continues to provide a safe and functional environment for base personnel.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, has announced a $6 million investment for industry, academia and government research agencies to contribute to the development of quantum technologies for Defence. Minister Pyne says quantum technologies have tremendous potential to lead to profound benefits in many sectors, including healthcare, communications, and Defence. “Quantum technologies could bring game changing advantages for Defence, in areas including timing, sensing and navigation capabilities, communications and quantum computing,” he said.

More than 350 local Queensland jobs will be secured under a new $600 million contract to sustain and upgrade the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets for the Royal Australian Air Force. The five-year contract extension, awarded to Boeing Defence Australia, will see support for the Super Hornet and Growler programs continue until 2030, ensuring the long-term retention of a highly skilled expert workforce at RAAF Base Amberley.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja today announced Kord Defence would receive funding through the Defence Innovation Hub to develop an innovative wireless systems control technology to enhance Army capability. An innovation contract worth $635,000 with Canberra-based Kord Defence will seek to develop a wireless soldier control system using Bluetooth Low Energy technology that will connect with multiple electronic devices currently in use by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The Morrison Government has invested $7.35 million in a veteran-owned NSW company’s project to support the development of its next-generation, high-performance watercraft. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price welcomed the investment in The Whiskey Project, one of the biggest from the Government’s Defence Innovation Hub. “This sort of investment in Australian defence industry is critical to growing a sustainable and globally competitive sovereign defence industry,” Minister Price said. 

Twelve new jobs will be created in Queensland after the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP announced today that a $70 million contract had been signed with Boeing Defence Australia to sustain Australia’s fleet of C-17A Globemaster aircraft. Minister Pyne said the $70 million C-17A Australian Sustainment Services Contract was a key initiative for the ongoing support to the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Heavy Air Lift capability.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today launched the $730 million Next Generation Technologies Fund, a new investment in Australian defence capability and innovation.  “As our enemies devise new ways to attack, our Defence Force must have advanced ways to respond and overcome new threats.”

Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan and Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja today announced the Government would invest $75 million upgrading infrastructure at the Australian Signals Directorate buildings in Canberra. The Australian Signals Directorate is a 24-hours a day, seven day a week operation providing signals intelligence and information security to the Australian Government and the Australian Defence Force. The $75 million upgrade to critical infrastructure at the Russell Offices Buildings R5 and R6 will improve performance while lowering running costs.

The Defence Innovation Hub has awarded its largest contract to date to Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to develop advanced respiratory protective equipment for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Joint media release: The Hon Melissa Price MP, Minister for Defence Industry Mr Phillip Thompson OAM MP, Member for Herbert Senator Susan McDonald, Senator for Queensland Australian company, CPB Contractors Pty Ltd, has been awarded the contract to deliver the first phase of works for a new defence training area near Greenvale in North Queensland, creating hundreds of jobs and helping the region’s economy recover from COVID-19.

The Morrison Government has committed a further $81.4 million to a key grant program aimed at growing the sovereign industrial capability of Australia’s defence industry, extending it until 30 June 2025 as part of the 2022-23 Budget. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price today also unveiled changes to the grant guidelines for the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority Grant program that would make it a competitive program.

Joint media release:  Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Science and Technology, The Hon Melissa Price MP   The Morrison Government will create more than 1600 Australian jobs by investing $875 million in 234 Defence projects across the country as part of its plan to continue to strengthen the nation’s sovereign defence capability.

Joint media release Phillip Thompson OAM, MP Member for Herbert Dozens of defence industry jobs will be secured in Queensland after the Morrison Government committed to a 12-month extension of a contract that provides support for Defence’s Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said Boeing Defence Australia would continue to provide support for the Chinook fleet out to 2025 under the CH-47F Chinook Integrated Support Services (CISS) contract.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced a three-year space research and development program between the University of New South Wales Canberra (UNSW Canberra) at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Announcing this significant investment at the Astronautical Conference on Thursday night, Minister Pyne said the Government was investing the $9.96 million to support the growth of Australian space technologies, as well as to investigate and demonstrate ways to enhance Defence space capability.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price has today congratulated the Royal Australian Air Force on its centenary. “In celebrating its centenary – from modest beginnings in 1921 – I am proud and honoured to join my fellow Australians to honour the 350,000 people whose courage, sacrifice and dedication helped build one of the finest air forces in the world,” Minister Price said. “The occasion is being marked with multiple events, including a spectacular fly past involving 60 current and former aircraft.

TOMORROW Air Force is commemorating 100 years of defending Australia with an flypast over the Australian Capital Territory, including current and former aircraft. Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said it was important to reflect on the service and sacrifice of all generations of Australians who have proudly worn the Air Force uniform. “More than 350,000 Australians have served in Air Force since 1921, and more than 11,000 have died in service,” Mr Chester said.

Today the Royal Australian Air Force marks a century of distinguished service since its inception on 31 March 1921. Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP said that since the dawn of flight, brave men and women have been willing to defend Australia in the skies above. “350,000 Australian’s have proudly worn the Air Force uniform since 1921,” Minister Hastie said. “Air Force aircrew have fought and served bravely in multiple wars above Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific.

Today the 10th Light Horse Regiment (10LH) has been re-raised, marking the 107th anniversary since 1914. A service and ceremonial parade was held in Perth to re-raise the 10th Light Horse Regiment and honour its distinguished service record.  Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP said this was a significant milestone for the Australian Army in enhancing capability and Defence in Western Australia. 

Joint Statement:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today travel to the United Kingdom to attend the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN). Australia and the United Kingdom’s partnership is underpinned by our shared history, values and interests.

Joint media release: Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee   The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (RAA) today marked the 150th Anniversary of Australian Artillery. A Commemorative Service was held in celebration to honour past and serving members of the Royal Australian Artillery and its forerunners.

1500 performers from around the world are preparing for the largest Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The event will take place from 17-19 October at Sydney Olympic Park, with 1500 of the world’s best pipers, fiddlers, drummers, military musicians and performers coming together. Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds said she was proud to see the Australian Defence Force perform, once again, alongside Commonwealth and international acts as part of the world famous showcase of the Tattoo.