Eight SMEs unite in space and defence






Eight leading Australian-owned space and defence companies have joined together to offer solutions to Australia’s space and defence industry priorities.

The companies, a who’s who of young, innovative Australian firms, have formed Australian Defence Industry Space Capability Alliance (ADISCA) to tackle defence’s Sovereign Industry Capability Priorities for space.

The alliance was revealed at the 13th Australian Space Forum taking place today in Adelaide, South Australia.

ADISCA members are DEWC Systems, Gilmour Space Technologies, Inovor Technologies, Neumann Space, Nova Systems, Southern Launch, REDARC Defence Systems, and Space Machines Company.

The alliance is also a leading example of a trend which is seeing Australian owned, and Australian domiciled SMEs joining together to pool their capabilities and bid for a larger share of the defence budget.

Defence has traditionally selected overseas-owned defence contractors as Prime Contractors for major projects, a habit which tends to drag in those companies’ overseas supply chains to the detriment of capable, local firms.

By bidding jointly, ADISCA can hope to secure Prime status which would maximise Australian content and the development of indigenous technology and skills.

The collective capabilities of the ADISCA membership include:

  • Launch vehicle design and manufacture
  • Space vehicle design and manufacture
  • Payload design and manufacture
  • In-space propulsion
  • In-space transportation
  • Launch services, and mission control services
  • Together with supporting Commercial, Civil and Defence sectors.

ADISCA spokesperson and DEWC CEO Ian Spencer said: “ADISCA members are leading the development of cutting-edge space and defence technologies that can, and should, be utilised by the Commonwealth to advance Australia’s strategic interests in space.

“ADISCA is a genuine sovereign collaboration in response to the Commonwealth’s call for Australian industry to provide its expertise to further our nation’s interests in space.

“We look forward to defence engaging with our highly skilled Australian consortium to prime upcoming Defence-related space projects.”

The Australian Government has committed $7 billion over the next decade in space capabilities as part of the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan in July 2020.

Spencer said: “Between the ADISCA companies, we employ many of the brightest people in technology and business in Australia.

“We are key contributors to the advancement of the Australian Civil Space Sector Strategy which aims to triple the size of the sector to $12 billion and create an additional 20,000 jobs over the next decade.

“ADISCA members look forward to playing our part in Australia’s Defence future in space.”

Picture: Leaders of eight SME’s cut the ribbon inaugurating the Australian Defence Industry Space Capability Alliance

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