$3.2 million in grants awarded to defence industry SMEs

The federal government has announced approximately $3.2 million in matched funding to six defence industry SMEs.

The grants came through two programs, Defence Global Competitiveness and Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority. 

According to industry minister Pat Conroy, the grants would help provide “the opportunity to deliver cutting-edge manufacturing and maintenance capabilities” to the Australian Defence Force for use at home and abroad.

“By investing in these six businesses, we are investing and securing more jobs and opportunities for our Defence Industry.”

The grant winners announced on Wednesday morning were:

• Lightforce, receiving $1 million to commission new capabilities for manufacturing through-life support for precision riflescopes, night vision and other optic or electro-optic products;
• Integra Systems, receiving $1 million to install panel bending and fibre optic laser cutters;
• XTEK, receiving $747,707 to acquire and commission a custom press and a new virtual machining centre, enhancing lightweight helmets (pictured) and body armour and improving helmet production capacity and export market opportunities;
• Direct Edge Manufacturing, receiving $342,470 to purchase specialised cutting equipment which will support the upgrade of land combat and protected mobility vehicle components;
• Stahl Metall, receiving $74,900 to install wire braiding and testing units to increase in-house manufacturing capability relevant to the international defence aerospace sector; and
• Fire System Services, receiving $62,212 to install new equipment, enhancing its testing and certified maintenance of pressure vessels.

Picture: credit XTEK