Advanced Navigation, Quantx Labs among seven defence grant recipients

Seven companies have been awarded grants totalling $3.8 under the federal Defence Global Competitiveness and Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority programs.

“These grant programs support Australian businesses to continue world-class manufacturing, serving Australia’s Defence needs, and providing the boost that’s needed to turn their cutting edge capabilities into successful defence exports,” said defence industry minister Pat Conroy on Friday.

The Defence Global Competitiveness program offers grants of between $15,000 and $150,000 to assist eligible, export-oriented projects.

The Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority program offers between $50,000 and $1 million to eligible businesses with project “building capabilities aligned with Defence’s Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities.”

Each program covers up to half of project costs

A list of the grant recipients from Defence’s website is reproduced below.

• Advanced Navigation (NSW) is receiving $830,665 for a custom fibre optic coil winding system for strategic-grade fibre optic gyroscope inertial navigation systems. These are used for accurate positioning, autonomous capability and high value asset tracking.
• Frontline Safety Australia (NSW) is receiving $494,343 for a lens cutting machine to produce ballistic protective eyewear as a component of the Ballistic and Laser Ocular Protection System (BLOPS) program.
• Adelaide Profile Services (SA) is receiving $781,018 for an advanced computerised numerical control dual thermal gantry for processing large non-conventional steel plates, such as those required for naval shipbuilding.
• Quantx Labs (SA) is receiving $589,000 to establish a hybrid integration facility for compact quantum sensors which provide precise timing functions within situational awareness capabilities, such as the Joint Operational Radar Network.
• Redline Engineering (VIC) is receiving $676,793 for multi-axis machining and dimensional verification capability. This will support production of complex mechanical components such as radar, small arms and munitions.
• Muir Engineering (TAS) is receiving $300,000 in two grants. They are for the acquisition and commission of computerised numerical control machining capabilities, and a two-tonne capacity gantry crane for manufacturing of anchoring equipment for international defence shipbuilding markets.
• George Lovitt Manufacturing (VIC) is receiving $150,000 for coordinate measuring machines for quality control of larger manufactured components. This will support international defence projects such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Picture: Digital fibre optic gyroscope (credit Advanced Navigation)