Defence & Aero News

Briefs

Australian companies to work in astronomy

Australian manufacturers will be able to bid for work in astronomy projects under the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Technology Development Program. Australian industry and astronomy institutions will be able to tender for contracts, opening a new door to support Australian innovation.

BAE Systems new Australian CEO

Gabby Costigan has been promoted to Group Managing Director of Business Development for BAE Systems and will hand leadership of BAE Systems Australia to Ben Hudson. Mr Hudson was previously the Chief Technology Officer in the UK and led the global vehicle systems portfolio for Rheinmetall, based in Germany, he held senior roles with General Dynamics in Switzerland, and served as an officer in the Australian Army, including active service in East Timor.

INDO PACIFIC conference in May

INDO PACIFIC 2022 will take place at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on 10-12 May, hosting key players from Defence, government and industry. This will be the largest single gathering of maritime defence, government and industry key players in the region, as part of the INDO PACIFIC 2022 International Maritime Exposition. INDO PACIFIC 2022 will combine high level defence and industry conferences, including the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Power Conference and industry’s IMC 2022 International Maritime Conference, with an industry.

Hanwha Defense armoured vehicle centre for Victoria

Hanwha Defense Australia will establish its Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence at the Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct in Victoria, where they will manufacture self propelled howitzers for the $1 billion LAND 8116 program. The $170 million facility will provide hundreds of highly skilled jobs in design, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Lockheed Martin’s new program director

Lockheed Martin Australia has appointed former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) director of General Navy Aviation Systems, Commodore (Retd) Peter Ashworth, as its program director for Global Training Systems. With a career spanning over 40 years of service in the RAN, Ashworth brings a wealth of experience across Navy Aviation and Defence aircrew training projects, Defence helicopter systems, and the management and acquisition of large-scale Defence capability. Based in Lockheed Martin Australia’s headquarters in Canberra, Ashworth will lead a 135-strong team over four locations around Australia to deliver comprehensive sustainment services with excellence for the Australian Defence Force’s JP9711 core simulation capability, AIR5428 Pilot Training System and Basic Wings Course programs.

Adelaide to house Space Manufacturing Hub

Fleet Space Technologies announced that the Australian Government has committed $20 million for the development of the Space Manufacturing Hub in Adelaide, South Australia.

This adds to funds already committed by the Government of South Australia ($20 million AUS) and a consortium of leading space, aerospace and advanced mobility companies including Fleet, Q-CTRL, At Space Pty Ltd and Alauda Aeronautics. The total value of the project is therefore $66 million. This state-of-the-art facility will enable further growth of Fleet Space Technologies in line with Australia’s aim to create one of the world’s leading space industries. In total 221 jobs are expected to be created in the sector across Space Technologies and its partners. A further 1104 indirect jobs will be created in the supply chain and associated businesses. The Space Manufacturing Hub is set to be one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world. It will create common user facility that will support Australia’s rapidly growing space industry and its overall space ecosystem. The Space Manufacturing Hub will provide the required facilities to design, manufacture, test and launch critical components for spacegoing vehicles and satellites. The State Government is in discussions with Adelaide Airport as a potential location for the Australian Space Park.

Fisherman’s Bend construction to begin 2023

Fisherman’s Bend, which is already home to global industry giants such as Boeing, Siemens and a major Department of Defence research and development facility, is set to welcome the University of Melbourne Engineering and Design innovation campus.

Bringing industry, institutions, and innovators together presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine what manufacturing means in 21st century Australia. By 2050 it is envisaged that the precinct will be home to at least 40,000 jobs and over 20,000 students and be internationally renowned as a centre for innovation in advanced manufacturing, engineering and design. By supporting a culture that fosters experimentation and learning from doing, the Employment Precinct will push design boundaries through a continual process of prototyping, testing and refining ideas. Icon SI Pty Ltd, one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest construction providers, has signed a $7.3 million contract with the federal government as the managing contractor for the Fisherman’s Bend redevelopment project. The specialist research base accommodates elements of the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), which is the lead agency dedicated to providing science and technology support for the country’s defence and security needs. Pending government and parliamentary approvals, construction is expected to start in mid-2023 and be completed by late 2025.