Babcock Australasia has secured a $30 million contract to deliver lift and hoist systems for the Royal Australian Navy’s first three Hunter class frigates. Work on the program will be conducted as part of its partnership with BAE Systems Maritime Australia and is the second key project to be delivered by Babcock on the Hunter program after also being selected to manage the fleet’s Air Weapons Handling Systems. Andrew Cridland, CEO of Babcock Australasia, said the project represented the company’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and safety in naval operations. “The ability to effectively move stores around a ship is ...

Leading South Australian aerospace composite manufacturer Airspeed has successfully completed its first captive carry flight test of a supersonic target prototype onboard its Marchetti S211 R&D platform. The company, based at Mawson Lakes, recently celebrated the project milestone, in a major step towards strengthening Australia’s sovereign aerospace capability. The team at Airspeed have been developing the customised prototype – known as Irukandji – which is powered by a solid rocket motor. It uses a variant of the 10-inch filament-wound cases the company already manufacturers for the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and Thales Australia. The prototype is aerodynamically similar ...

Leading South Australian precision component manufacturer, Levett Engineering, will manufacture and supply stacking frames to support the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) strike missile (NSM) capability, under a new contract with Kongsberg Defence Australia. The stacking frames, to be built at the company’s manufacturing facility in Adelaide’s north, will be used to transport NSM launcher missile modules, which are being delivered under Project SEA 1300 Phase 1. Konsberg continues to expand its local supply chain as it supports the NSM acquisition and development program that will deliver advanced guided weapons to Australia’s Navy, boosting its capability advantage in a changing threat ...

Leading South Australian provider of portable power solutions and electronic systems, REDARC, has acquired the intellectual property (IP) of local electronic warfare company, Asension, in a move that will protect critical sovereign Defence capabilities. The acquisition is set to bolster the technical knowledge and expertise of REDARC Defence & Space, which is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge technology to meet the evolving demands of the defence and space industries. Asension, which announced it had entered voluntary administration earlier this year, was founded in 2018 as an innovative electronic components, sensor, and system provider, focused on developing technology for Australia’s Department of Defence ...

Adelaide-based Trellis Data and US-headquartered global platform provider Vantiq have announced a strategic partnership that will bring cutting-edge generative AI capabilities to the AUKUS partnership. The collaboration will focus on improving situational awareness and decision-making in defence operations, through the integration of advanced AI technologies and real-time data processing and analysis. A leading provider of sovereign AI solutions for the defence and national security sectors, Trellis Data provides advanced speech-to-text capabilities, computer vision and knowledge mastery, which can be used to analyse and interpret large volumes of data from various sources. Integrating Trellis Data’s solutions with Vantiq’s leading platform for ...

Leading US company SNC has set up their Australian subsidiary at Adelaide’s global innovation district, Lot Fourteen. SNC AUS complements the company’s existing presence in the US and UK and is aligned with the AUKUS trilateral security partnership and the company’s intention to create robust future capabilities in the Australian defence sector. With more than 40 locations worldwide, SNC specialises in aircraft modification and integration, electronic warfare technologies, and innovative software solutions across all domains. SNC Senior Vice President of Business Development Stu Wildman said the company was excited to expand their global footprint into Australia. “This strategic addition to ...

South Australia is cementing its position as a leader in defence research with a significant funding boost from the Federal Government. Four local organisations will share nearly $18 million of the $60 million allocated under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) Program. This round of the initiative is aimed at advancing quantum and counter disinformation technologies to give Australia’s Defence Forces a technological edge while developing sovereign capability. Of the 179 national proposals, 21 contracts were awarded across Australia’s science and technology sectors, aligning with the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Innovation, Science and ...

The South Australian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASC, focused on developing the state’s defence industry workforce and skills. With South Australia at the centre of the nation’s naval shipbuilding program and ASC playing a crucial role in delivering Australia’s submarine capability at Osborne Naval Shipyard, the agreement will focus on attracting, retaining, and developing skilled workers. It will also enhance existing relationships with local companies, academia, and education providers to develop the skilled workforce and strengthen Australia’s sovereign submarine capability. South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close said the MoU would support collaboration to deliver current ...

South Australian defence technology specialist Aurizn Group has strengthened its position as a premier Tier 2 defence technology company, announcing the acquisition of Pacific Aerospace Consulting (PAC) Australia. The strategic acquisition brings Aurizn’s workforce to over 300 highly skilled professionals and will enhance its service offering to meet growing demands in the defence sector. Aurizn Group CEO Brett Sangster described the partnership as a key milestone in the company’s ambitious growth strategy. “Aurizn has always had a strong vision for growth in the defence sector, filling the space between the primes and the smaller but often highly capable end of ...

Global defence and security company, QinetiQ has unveiled a first-of-its-kind research facility in Adelaide's north dedicated to advancing software engineering and rapid prototyping for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Mawson Lakes facility features an on-site software development environment and an adaptable laboratory layout, designed for the rapid development and testing of cutting-edge technologies and supporting key projects outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program. Chief Executive Australia Sector, Gary Stewart said the facility will significantly enhance the company’s existing capabilities. “The establishment of QLabs marks a significant milestone in our efforts to grow Australia’s sovereign ...

South Australian company QuantX Labs, has partnered with the University of Adelaide to advance cutting-edge quantum technology that will elevate Defence’s navigation and communication capabilities in challenging environments. The Defence Trailblazer-led research collaboration will focus on developing atomic clock technology to significantly enhance navigation networks and support Defence applications. The University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) chief innovator and lead researcher on the project Professor Andre Luiten said the project builds on four years of collaboration and unites a team of globally leading clock researchers with technical experts at QuantX Labs, a world-leader in high-precision timing ...

BAE System Australia has secured a multi-million dollar contract to triple the production of its advanced passive radio frequency sensors for joint strike missiles supplied to Australia and key allies at the company’s Edinburgh Parks facility in South Australia. Under the $160 million deal, BAE Systems will supply over 1000 sensors into Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace’s global Joint Strike Missile (JSM) program over the next six years, boosting local manufacturing in Adelaide’s north. BAE System’s Passive Radio Frequency Sensor (PRS), which was designed and developed in South Australia, is a world-leading capability and critical enhancing component of the ...