Nova Systems Australia has announced it will invest an initial $2 million to establish an Australia-first Test and Evaluation Centre of Excellence (T&E CoE) – a central hub to support sovereign defence capability, research and training. The national initiative will bring together Defence, industry and academia from around the country to deliver integrated joint-force T&E. The Centre is expected to support the acceleration of emerging technologies; enable collaboration across industry and academia; deliver T&E practitioner training; facilitate innovation and research and development activities; and offer T&E subject-matter experts to distribute in-depth training, conferences, seminars and more. There is also scope ...

A new South Australian defence industry alliance has been formed in Adelaide’s north, aiming to trigger growth and create new jobs in the sector. The Edinburgh Industry Alliance – developed in collaboration with the City of Playford – will work with stakeholders to address supply chain challenges and build on the need for onshore sovereign industrial solutions. Nine local companies based in the area will be joining the alliance: Aimpoint RPL, BiORG, Century Engineering, Eptec Group, Levett Engineering, Lionsgate Business Park, Sonnex, Williams Metal Fabrication and XTEK Limited. Chair of the alliance and Head of Armour & Composites at XTEK ...

A new advanced supercomputing capability has been launched at South Australia’s Edinburgh Defence Precinct, enabling leading scientists to tackle complex Defence challenges with greater precision and accuracy.   The high-performance computing capability performs up to a million times faster than a standard computer and is the first of its kind in Australia. It will be used by scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Group to analyse large data sets and rapidly perform complex calculations to tackle some of Defence’s most challenging scientific and engineering problems. Minister for Defence Richard Marles said the supercomputing capability will play a vital role in ...

South Australian company Praxis Labs could transform the way Australia’s future armoured vehicles are powered by using cutting-edge solar technology to harvest the sun’s energy.    The company – formerly known as Praxis Aeronautics – has developed solar-powered technology that enables composite materials, such as fibreglass and carbon fibre, to capture energy from the sun whilst remaining lightweight and robust. The technology has the potential to revolutionise small unmanned aerial systems and surface vessels by providing a sustainable energy solution – and now the company is focusing its attention on improving the performance of Australia’s next generation electric vehicles on ...

Following a decade of leadership guiding the development of South Australian defence industry capability, Defence SA Advisory Board Chair Sir Angus Houston, has stepped down from his position. An energising and passionate advocate for developing sovereign industrial capability, Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK AFC (Ret’d) has played a pivotal role in driving South Australia’s defence industry strategy. Joining the Defence SA Advisory Board in 2012 before taking on the role of Chair in 2014, Sir Angus has been a staunch advocate for maximising Australian industry participation, strongly supporting local industry to capture vital supply chain opportunities and ensuring ...

Australia’s sovereign defence company ASC is opening a new science and technology hub at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen, to form new research and business connections that can enhance Collins Class submarine sustainment and their Life of Type Extension (LOTE). ASC’s Lot Fourteen office will be a base for both permanent staff and visiting experts across ASC’s engineering team. The Lot Fourteen office would extend research activities undertaken at the company’s Osborne site and provide a new gateway for students and future partners to connect with ASC’s programs. The science and technology hub will build upon the state’s already strong Defence presence ...

South Australian-based Defence Coating Systems has officially unveiled the nation’s largest on-site defence coating facility at their Wingfield factory, which has helped them secure a major defence contract.  The specialised coating company signed a deal with global technology and security company Kongsberg Defence Australia to paint the next generation launcher systems for the Australian Army. The project will see the NASAMS Mk 2 Canister launchers delivered to prime contractor Raytheon Australia over the next 12 months as part of the LAND19 Ph 7B program. It comes after the company invested almost $500,000 into enhancing their Wingfield factory, which now features ...

Successful entrepreneur and Ngarrindjeri man David Mallett is paving the way for greater First Nations representation in the defence sector, with his South Australian company Yanun Project Services playing a key role in the project management of a number of major defence projects. One of only a few First Nations businesses in the state’s defence industry, Yanun specialises in project management, schedule and planning support and project controls services. Since establishing in 2019, the business has grown, now employing seven people including a number of Aboriginal trainees, and is highly sought-after for its services by several major defence suppliers, despite ...

South Australian advanced engineering and construction company, Novafast Holdings, has launched an Australian-first defence manufacturing capability for composite production. The company has developed a world-leading robotic technique to manufacture advanced and automated composite piping and fittings to be used within large scale defence manufacturing, which will be delivered within a state-of-the-art $4 million facility. The new site was officially opened on Tuesday 28 June by Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Susan Close. In 2021, Novafast was awarded a $2 million Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) grant to invest in the robotic technology. Novafast Business Manager ...

Defence consultancy AeroPM has finalised its expansion into South Australia, officially opening its new facility in the Lot Fourteen innovation district. AeroPM is an Australian award-winning professional services consultancy firm specialising in supporting the Australian Department of Defence to acquire complex and significant sovereign capabilities. AeroPM’s Chief Executive Officer, Emily Frizell, said the company’s new location would complement its national headquarters in Canberra and accelerate its growth. “Lot Fourteen is a genuinely collegiate environment and the access to like-minded professionals and companies is just good for business,” Ms Frizell said. “Our Adelaide team has grown strongly over the last three ...

Off the back of a successful trial in 2021, BAE Systems Australia has announced 10 internships are on offer within the national company through the STEM Returners Australia program. STEM Returners targets candidates with science, technology, engineering and maths skills who have had an extended career break or who may be keen to move from another sector into defence and matches them to paid career opportunities. BAE Systems Australia was the first defence company to partner with STEM Returners last year, when they offered six internships through the program, with five people being offered permanent positions as a result. Now, ...