Chris Picton MP
Minister for State Development
Minister for Defence & Space Industries
A South Australian innovation is helping clear land mines and other explosive devices in military and humanitarian operations in global conflicts.
Minelab, part of leading South Australian technology company Codan, has delivered more than 200 specialised mine detectors to the Australian Defence Force.
Designed, developed and manufactured by engineers at Minelab’s facility in Mawson Lakes, the detectors are used in military and humanitarian operations around the world to detect improvised explosive devices.
The advanced handheld system integrates innovative metal detection and ground penetrating radar technologies to detect low-metal mines, plastic homemade explosive containers and complex improvised explosive devices across varied soil types and operating conditions.
Production of the lightweight units commenced in November with the establishment of a dedicated production line at the Mawson Lakes facility.
The compact detector can fit in a pack to be carried anywhere, meaning it can be used in all sorts of terrain to clear potential dangers.
The MDS-20 will be used by the Australian Defence Force to protect their personnel as well as global defence forces and humanitarian customers in peacekeeping missions in areas following conflicts.
Minelab has a team of more than 80 engineers dedicated exclusively to advancing metal detection technologies, demonstrating the depth of the research and development capability.
In the recent State Budget, the Malinauskas Labor Government announced it will invest $50 million for a new Research and Development Productivity Fund to drive innovation in South Australia.
Quotes attributable to Chris Picton
This is an incredible South Australian innovation, designed, developed and manufactured in Mawson Lakes, that will be used across the world to save lives.
Minelab’s advanced detection systems showcase the quality of the engineers working in this field, which is strengthening our state’s reputation as a centre for cutting-edge technology.
This is exactly the kind of innovation we want to see more of in South Australia, which is why as a State Government we are investing in more research and development.
Quotes attributable to Alf Ianniello, Codan CEO & Managing Director
Our ability to create and commercialise world-leading technology is what sets us apart.
The MDS-20 is the result of decades of investment in Australian engineering, research and development, and demonstrates how South Australian innovation can deliver life-saving capability for defence forces and humanitarian missions around the world.
