Electronics manufacturer REDARC has extended its defence businesses with the acquisition of electronic warfare specialist Asension which has been in voluntary administration. REDARC Defence & Space will continue Asension’s work at the forefront of electronic warfare, engineering, operations, and grow partnerships with universities, the Defence Science and Technology Group, and industry partners, according to an…
By Peter Roberts This week, did we see an example of the federal government’s new policies to link innovation more directly and speedily to eventual purchase? Or was this the last gasp of Defence’s traditional glacial approach to procurement. These questions loom large in Monday’s announcement that the government would invest over $100 million to…
The federal government will invest over $100 million to buy new lethal and non-lethal drones from a German and an Australian manufacturer. The acquisition of two small uncrewed aerial systems (SUAS) will bolster the ADF’s ability to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance and augments the ADF’s existing stock of drones. The Quantum-Systems Vector 2-in-1 and…
The Defence Science and Technology Group has revealed that Professor Emily Hilder will be the substantive Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) charged with boosting defence innovation. Professor Hilder brings a wealth of leadership and STEM experience to the job of building up ASCA, which is part of a significant reshaping of defence…
Ocius Technology‘s Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessel is to be trialed by the Royal New Zealand Navy. The company took to social media to confirm reports that the 6.8-metre, renewably-powered surveillance vessel was enroute to NZ where it will undergo trials. Last year the Royal Australian Navy contracted to acquire five Bluebottle USVs from Ocius, following…
The recently established Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator in the Department of Defence is on the hunt for its most senior staff – its head and an assistant secretary. They will lead the organisation which took over disparate defence innovation efforts including the Defence Innovation Hub and Next Generation Technologies Fund. While these were considered successful,…
By Peter Roberts The Department of Defence has called for information and ideas leading to the development of a small, capable and genuinely sovereign drone system to be developed and manufactured in Australia. The Department issued a Request For Information (RFI) which is an ‘industry engagement activity’ for the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA)’s first…
The federal government’s shake up of defence innovation continues as the new Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) has commenced operations. The accelerator is to focus innovation efforts on capabilities that the Australian Defence Force could use or see themselves using in a few years’ time. Previous schemes such as Defence Innovation Hub grants were seen…
