Defence industry partnering for success – series launch

@AuManufacturing today launches a sponsored series reporting on BAE Systems Australia’s Partnering for success defence industry supplier event which kicks off in Adelaide next week. In this launch article, Peter Roberts explores the relationship between defence contractors and local industry.

With the release of the federal government’s Defence Strategic Review we now have a clearer idea of the future shape of the Australian Defence Force.

While there were some disappointments for defence industry in a switch from anti-submarine warfare and land forces towards more powerful warships and long range strike capabilities, industry can now plan for the future with greater confidence.

Long term planning and a pathway for the future is critical if industry is to have the confidence to invest in new technologies, skills and capabilities.

Building up the capabilities of the SME defence industry sector has been a theme for governments over the past decade, something which is recognised as an imperative given the supply chain disruptions experienced during the Covid pandemic.

And nurturing the SME industry sector is the theme of a major event – Partnering for Success – kicking off in Adelaide next week.

Organised by Australia’s biggest defence contractor, BAE Systems Australia, the event brings together partners and suppliers for a week of activities and discussions, focused on innovation, building resilience and seizing opportunities.

This will be achieved through site visits, robust discussions, presentations from guest speakers and industry representations.

A highlight will be an address by Chief Procurement Officer for the global BAE Systems company and chair of the BAE Systems plc Global Supply Chain Council, Ann Ackerson.

BAE Systems Australia currently spends more than $700 million with Australian suppliers across fields as diverse as the construction of Hunter class frigates, the deployment of advanced jet aircraft, the operation of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) and the manufacture of locally developed products such as the Nulka active missile decoy.

With BAE Systems – and defence spending in general – currently on a fast growth path, including a focus on building Australia’s defence industry supply chains, new opportunities are opening up for SMEs in the field.

Over the next two weeks @AuManufacturing will report from the Partnering for success event, and explore the issues and the Australian defence suppliers seizing the opportunity.

Today we feature the first of a two-part series by CEO of defence sector consultancy ADROITA, Sarah Pavillard. Recently she authored a report, Micro-Partnerships in the Age of AUKUS, in which she argued that micro-partnerships between Australian businesses and those in the UK and the US were needed if we were to capitalise on the historic AUKUS pact.

The articles in this series are sponsored by defence prime contractor BAE Systems Australia – the country’s most versatile defence and security company.

From air and maritime sustainment to shipbuilding, BAE have a long heritage of providing advanced defence technology which protects both people and national security, keeping critical information and infrastructure secure.

The company’s strengths and core capabilities include providing the design, manufacture, upgrade and support services to the Australian Defence Force, cyber intelligence and commercial organisations across the country. BAE offers capabilities in vital areas such as through-life support, security, logistics and systems integration.

Further reading:
DEFENCE PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS – RIDING THE AUKUS WAVE, PART 1 BY SARAH PAVILLARD
SME DEFENCE COMPANIES THE KEY TO AUKUS SUCCESS – REPORT

Defence partnering for success – Riding the AUKUS wave, part 1 by Sarah Pavillard

Picture: Defence Strategic Review

@AuManufacturing’s series Defence industry partnering for success is sponsored by defence sector prime contractor BAE Systems Australia.