By Adam Bartley, RMIT University and Matthew Warren, RMIT University A 12-tonne fishing boat weighs anchor three kilometres off the port of Adelaide. A small crew huddles over a miniature submarine, activates the controls, primes the explosives, and releases it into the water. The underwater drone uses sensors and sonar to navigate towards its pre-programmed…
Former coalition minister for defence industry Christopher Pyne has revealed his dismay at the closure of the car industry which came after a challenge from then Treasurer Joe Hockey for GM Holden to leave the country. Pyne did not express misgivings publicly at the time, but according to an interview in the website of the…
BAE Systems Australia turned 70 this month, making it one of Australia’s oldest, largest and fastest growing defence manufacturers. Here Ben Hudson reflects on the contribution of the defence sector in Australia to national security and prosperity. All too often I believe we have made a point of focusing on major programme challenges, without reflecting…
Australian owned munitions manufacturer NIOA has installed cutting edge ballistics data acquisition technology capable of measuring real-time projectile velocity and location at the company’s Brisbane range facility. NIOA Australia’s General Manager – Engineering Rudi Bekker said the technology was a gamechanger in weapon and ammunition performance testing, taking accuracy diagnostics to the next level. Bekker…
Increasing multinational collaboration among AUKUS companies in Australia’s shipbuilding sector is apparent in a new tie up between US-based Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) and Melbourne’s Marand Precision Engineering. FMD is a primary supplier to the US Navy of marine power and propulsion systems, while Marand has increasingly been penetrating defence from its origins in the…
Military and law enforcement uniform and equipment manufacturer Australian Defence Apparel (ADA) is expanding their existing membership of the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) to cover their Bendigo, Victoria factory. Once the membership is extended to their 5000sqm facility in Bendigo this year, ADA will be the only uniform manufacturer that has achieved DISP membership…
Phycologic harnesses algae to purify indoor air Sydney start up Phycologic has launched its novel Seatree which harnesses the photosynthetic power of algae to purify indoor air. Founded by engineers and marine scientists Zac Duryea and Jack Vitnell (pictured), the company worked with University of Technology Sydney’s Deep Green Biotech Hub to develop the algae-filled…
Defence contractor Electro Optic Systems has followed on its success in selling weapons systems to Ukraine with another order announced to supply similar systems to a ‘western European government’, which the company did not name. The $51 million order s for its Australian-made Remote Weapons System (RWS, pictured) which allow troops to aim and fire…
By Peter Roberts Occasionally a Senator provides a powerful demonstration of the value of Senate Estimates hearings to lay bare the inconsistencies and contradictions that prevent governments from achieving their aims. Last week we witnessed just such a seminal performance by South Australian Liberal Senator David Fawcett who calmly and methodically uncovered the gulf between…
Researchers at Flinders University have discovered a new low-cost material that can be made into lenses for thermal imaging – opening the way to new advanced manufacturing applications for this powerful technology. Thermal and infrared imaging are used in many industries including defence, security and surveillance, medicine, electrical engineering, space exploration and autonomous vehicle operation.…
