Today we conclude our editorial series – Towards 3% R&D – Turbocharging Australia’s Innovation Effort – in which @AuManufacturing has exposed the issues eroding Australian R&D. In this edited excerpt Dr John Howard proposes A National Business R&D Strategy and Action Plan. Download the full paper at the foot of this article. The structure of…
Metal 3D printer manufacturer AML3D has signed a contract with the Australian Government Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) to provide components for testing in defence marine applications. The $240,000 contract requires AML3D to 3D metal print two representative marine components using a Nickel Aluminium Bronze (NAB) alloy and high strength duplex steel alloy. Manufacturing…
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…
Australia and Japan have signed an agreement to enhance strategic capabilities in robotic and autonomous systems for undersea warfare. The research project between Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) is the first under a bilateral research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) arrangement signed in June, 2023. The…
Submarine construction and maintenance company ASC has renewed its longstanding supply chain partnership with defence contractor MacTaggart Scott Australia (MTSA). ASC built the conventionally powered Collins class submarines at Osborne in Adelaide and is heavily involved into the future in the planned Life of Type Extension (LOTE) for the fleet. ASC’s Chief Executive Officer and…
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…
By Peter Roberts Mitsubishi Electric has made history in a new deal with Australia’s Department of Defence, becoming the first Japanese company to sign a defence contract with a foreign government. Not only will Australia access Japanese defence technologies, but the deal opens the way for Australian technologies to be adopted in Japan. The federal…
Collaborative space research centre the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat) has launched a $7 million project to develop new autonomous spacecraft using artificial intelligence (AI). The three-year project, Spacecraft Autonomy and Onboard AI for Next Generation Space Systems, or SCARLET-α, aims to create a set of autonomous algorithms that will enable small and distributed spacecraft…
