Our series – Equipping Australia’s armed forces – continues today with a focus on flow-on benefits across manufacturing as SME’s improve their capabilities and technologies to supply critical defence equipment. But sometimes it is not about missiles and complex electronics. Here Peter Roberts profiles Rowlands Metalworks. A visit to Rowlands Metalworks in the nondescript Adelaide…
Today we launch our new editorial series – Equipping Australia’s armed forces. In the middle of an boom in defence spending unprecedented in peacetime, domestic industry is stepping up to play its role. By Peter Roberts. The federal government is on a buying spree – unprecedented in peacetime – to reequip our armed forces, and…
Launching our new editorial series – Equipping Australia’s armed forces – Jim McDowell challenges us not to confuse foreign owned companies operating in Australia with truly sovereign manufacturing capability. In fact, he says we should settle for nothing less than Australian owned and controlled.
The Australian Missile Corporation (AMC) has signed up two new SME partners in its collaboration developing an indigenous consortium to develop a sovereign guided weapons enterprise. AMC, a subsidiary of Queensland munitions manufacturer NIOA, has added Milspec Manufacturing and Thomas Global Systems to its partners. They join a collaboration that includes Quickstep, Black Sky Aerospace,…
By Peter Roberts It is getting harder by the day to continue thinking that Australia is not making a hash of our most expensive and complex defence program – building 12 Attack class submarines at a cost of $90 billion. The government has finally given clarity whether three or all six of our Collins boats…
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has begun civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Perth shipbuilder Austal and its former CEO David Singleton (pictured). Austal revealed it had been notified this morning of the case, which follows an investigation by ASIC of the company’s disclosures to the stockmarket regarding its…
Lendlease has been a awarded a contract to lead a $101.1 million construction of vehicle workshops, hardstands and shelters at Brisbane’s Gallipoli Barracks.
Specialty case manufacturer Pelican Products has gained ISO 9001:2015 certification for its Erina, NSW manufacturing facility. The company, which manufactures more than 500 standard sizes of cases used by aerospace companies, military personnel, first responders and outdoor enthusiasts, joins eight other Pelican sites globally with the certification. Pelican’s Australian managing director Christian Nyman said: “In…
Perth shipbuilder Austal has been awarded a US$44 million ($56.9 million) contract to develop and demonstrate autonomous operation of its Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels in service with the US Navy. The company, which has a $2 billion plus contract to build 15 EFP ships for the USN at its yard in Mobile, Alabama, will…
Two of Australia’s leading local defence businesses have joined to further opportunities in remotely operated weapons systems (RWS) and ordinance. Weapons and munitions prime contractor NIOA and Canberra RWS manufacturer Electro Optic Systems (EOS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly pursue opportunities to enhance and support EOS Remote Weapon Stations and weapon systems.…
