iLaunch Trailblazer to 3D print hypersonic space launch structures

Defence, Manufacturing News

The iLAuNCH Trailblazer project, universities and industry partners are to establish a manufacturing facility to utilise additive manufacturing techniques to print more durable satellites and hypersonic space vehicle structures. The Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) programme, funded by the Department of Education, has linked with South Australian universities and Adelaide-based advanced…

Graphene electrodes part of plan to make Australia make PV again

Manufacturing News

A consortium of Halocell Energy, First Graphene and Queensland University of Technology has shared a few details about a three-year project to develop perovskite solar cell fabrication, recently awarded a $2 million grant under Round 14 of the federal Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P) initiative. Halocell makes perovskite solar cells containing halide, and describes itself…

Defence projects at risk due to shortage of engineers

Defence

Professionals Australia has stepped up its advocacy of a specific STEM classification and pay structure to attract, recognise and retain the engineering and technical capabilities needed by the federal government to roll out the initiatives recommended by the Defence Strategic Review (DSR). Professionals Australia’s CEO Jill McCabe said that the lack of critical engineering and…

Lockheed announces senior appointment, new offices for major defence satellite project

Defence

Lockheed Martin Australia has announced Toni-Anne Munn as Deputy Program Director for JP9102, the multi-billion-dollar military satellite communications project that LMA was named preferred bidder on in April. According to a statement on Monday, the new role would “facilitate further growth in the region” as LMA prepares for the project’s execution phase. The company added…

Ukraine war: Australian-made cardboard drones used to attack Russian airfield show how innovation is key to modern warfare

Analysis and Commentary, Defence

By Paul Cureton, Lancaster University Innovative design choices can have a massive impact in the theatre of war, so it is important to understand the principles behind their development. Recent use of low-cost cardboard drones by Ukraine, supplied by Australia, to attack targets in Russia is a good example of how this can work. Australia…

Defence innovation accelerator says – find me a leader to challenge the status quo

Defence

The recently established Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator in the Department of Defence is on the hunt for its most senior staff – its head and an assistant secretary. They will lead the organisation which took over disparate defence innovation efforts including the Defence Innovation Hub and Next Generation Technologies Fund. While these were considered successful,…