3 minute read
Defence & Aero News
from VTE September 2021
by Possprint
Briefs
Defence seeks industry input
The Department of Defence is seeking input from industry and academia on the Sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise to secure Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities. Feedback is also being sought regarding potential roles that organisations could play to assist the Commonwealth and Department of Defence in delivering the $1 billion GWEO Enterprise. This Enterprise will provide significant opportunities in advanced manufacturing for Australian small to medium sized businesses.
University of SA lands laser contract
The University of South Australia has landed a $1.8 million government contract to develop technology that underpins the next generation of high-powered lasers in Australia, for the defence and manufacturing sectors. University of South Australia professor of Laser Engineering David Lancaster will lead the threeyear project, funded by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), in collaboration with the University of Adelaide.
Sydney universities co-host space research
The University of Sydney (USYD) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will co-host a new NSW Space Research Network at Tech Central and supported by $1.4 million in funding from the NSW government. The NSW Space Research Network builds on the release of the NSW Space Industry Development Strategy, minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said. “This investment will bring together universities, industry and government to tackle space challenges, translate vital research into commercial space products, attract investment, upskill graduates and drive growth in high-tech jobs,” Minister Ayres said.
Second rocket launch pad for SA
Commonwealth approval has been granted for a second rocket launch facility licence, awarded to space company Southern Launch in South Australia. The licence will enable Southern Launch to establish a sub-orbital rocket testing facility at Whalers Way, 680km west of Adelaide. If tests are successful, the site could be used for much larger orbital rocket launches in the future. This is an essential step forward in establishing Australia’s commercial launch capabilities
Ventia wins Project Land 8120
Ventia has secured a contract with the Department of Defence, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), to deliver engineering support platforms for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), under Project Land 8120 Phase 1.
The contract will generate revenue to Ventia of $158 million over five years. Ventia has brought together a team of equipment partners including JCB/CEA, Manitou, Liebherr Mobile Cranes, Komatsu and ECLIPS, and systems engineering specialist, QinetiQ, to offer the full breadth of services sought by the ADF. Phase 1 involves Ventia leading a team of equipment manufacturers and local engineering specialists, to supply approximately 300 earthmoving and material handling vehicles. Minor modifications will occur to meet specialist requirements such as air transportation. Vehicles will undergo a rigorous verification and validation process to ensure that specific Defence requirements are met. Where required, specialist testing will be undertaken at the Australian Automotive Research Centre proving ground near Anglesea in regional Victoria before introduction into service. Ventia will also provide vital integrated logistics support, develop operating manuals, maintenance specifications and other technical documentation, and deliver operator training at Defence sites nationally.
Developments in electric aircraft eVTOL
Drive System Design is helping to determine future propulsion systems for electric aircraft with the objective of the AePOP project to develop a toolchain that brings critical performance development into the very earliest stages of electrified propulsion system design in aerospace.
The initial study in the UK has been aimed at small eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) vehicles with a payload of 150-400kg and the optimisation process can also be applied to autonomous drones as well as regional and sub-regional aircraft. “The demand for non-contact deliveries is growing, including the delivery of medical supplies catalysed by the COVID-19 crisis, and eVTOLs could be a significant part of the future solution. They offer the opportunity to reduce traffic on our roads, improve our air quality and potentially reduce delivery costs,” said John Morton, Drive System Design engineering director. The key enabler to this process is the detailed characterisation of subsystems and components, which allows the process to model complete propulsion system variants for simulation. “In our experience, the industry is hesitant to use transmissions for aerospace systems due to the perceived additional weight and servicing challenges,” Mr Morton said. “During the course of the project, the benefits of transmissions in electrified systems became clear in detail. When designed using a whole system approach, the use of a transmission can significantly reduce weight and cost. Therefore, the challenge becomes one of implementing these designs in such a way as to meet all the appropriate durability and service requirements.” The company aims to make its progress on the aerospace application available to the wider industry in due course.
