Flinders Uni, NUWC Division Newport sign R&D partnership

Flinders University announced what it says is “a history-making partnership” as the first Australian university to link up with a key United States Navy research centre, under a new agreement with Naval Undersea Warfare Centre Division Newport. Flinders announced the Cooperative Research and Development agreement (CRADA) in a statement on Monday, heralding it as progressing…

Australia, UK sign agreement to cooperate on quantum tech

The Australian and United Kingdom governments have signed an MoU, agreeing to cooperate on innovation, research and commercialisation of quantum technology, during the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park this week. A joint statement (accessible here) “reaffirms the strong technology relationship” between the pair, supporting joint activities under the Australia-UK Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership…

New report looks at skills needed for Australian semiconductor moonshot

Following its Australia’s semiconductor manufacturing moonshot report last year, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has published a follow-up report on developing the talent pipeline needed to underpin a local chip industry. Published on Thursday, Australia’s semiconductor manufacturing moonshot: securing semiconductor talent looks at the importance of developing skills, global human capital challenges, and – as…

N-submarines well worth the wait – Kim Beazley

Eminent Australian political leader Kim Beazley has weighed in on the AUKUS submarine debate, writing that the submarines were necessitated by Australia’s strategic position in our region. Beazley, a former Governor of Western Australia, Ambassador to the United States and federal opposition leader, said Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines would be worth the wait, and the cost.…

Boeing and Ferra to develop longer range gliding munition

Boeing and Australian manufacturer Ferra Engineering have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to continue production of Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended Range (JDAM ER) wing kits for local and export markets. The companies also plan explore applications for Powered JDAM — a long-range, low-cost and mass-producible JDAM derivative capable of travelling upwards of 300 nautical…

Australian officials join AUKUS submarine inspection

Representatives from the Australian and US submarine support organisations have joined Royal Navy personnel in UK submarine operating base Faslane to understand how to maintain nuclear-powered submarines, which will support future AUKUS nations. Forming an Advance Verification Team (AVT), subject matter experts from all three AUKUS nations joined British shipyard personnel to develop their understanding…

Defence industry AUKUS essentials – by Michael Slattery

The UK government has awarded £3.95 billion to BAE Systems to further design and engineer the UK’s and potentially Australia’s next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, SSN-AUKUS. With critical decisions being made on sourcing Michael Slattery looks at the difficulties faced by Australian industry to have a meaningful role in the programme. The latest AUKUS contract for…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among @AuManufacturing’s readers, September 18 – 22, 2023

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 5) Another battery metals factory lost offshore, more to come While Australia talks the big talk about being a critical minerals and battery metals superpower, backed by the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, Australian metals companies continue to…

Players line up for AUKUS as Huntington Ingalls bets on Australia

The constructor of the United States’ Virginia class submarines Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is the latest company to invest further in Australia on the promise of submarine construction under the AUKUS pact. Babcock International, which has been positioning itself to provide infrastructure for nuclear powered submarines in Perth and Adelaide has combined with Newport News-based…