Defence Business_Issue 41 (Nov 17 – Jan 18)_DTC_Web

November/December 2017/January 2018 Defence Business
NEWS IN BRIEF
7
Aegis for Future Frigates
SAGE to Tonsley
Lockheed Martin Australia has been chosen to
supply the Aegis combat system for Australia’s Future
Frigate program (SEA 5000).
The program will replace Australia’s existing fleet of
eight Anzac Class frigates with a new fleet of nine multimission
frigates optimised for anti-submarine warfare.
The new approach for combat management
systems will ensure our Navy’s future ships are fitted out
to protect Australia in the decades ahead, the Prime
Minister said in a joint statement with Defence Industry
Minister Christopher Pyne and Defence Minister
Marise Payne.
Intelligent Welder Training
The Welding Technology Institute of Australia has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Navantia
Australia and TAFE SA to establish an Intelligent Welder
Training Facility in Adelaide.
Equipped with the latest augmented reality
simulators and welding systems, the facility will be used
to run accredited assessments, up-skill tradespeople and
boost supply of ‘gate-ready’ welding graduates to the
local defence shipbuilding industry. It will form the core
of the Defence Welding Hub, being established by WTIA
to provide training to the defence industry in Adelaide
using the latest advances in welder training technology.
This decision will maximise the Future Frigate’s
air warfare capabilities, enabling these ships to engage
in missile defence.
“Australia’s Future Frigates will not only help
secure the Navy’s maritime approaches, but will also
secure Australian jobs and the future of Australia’s
industrial base. Our local operations employ more than
800 Australians in facilities and laboratories located in
every mainland state of Australia,” said Vince Di
Pietro, Chief Executive Lockheed Martin Australia and
New Zealand.
Premier of South Australia Jay Weatherill cuts the ribbon with SAGE
Group Managing Director Andrew Downs and CEO Adrian Fahey at
the facility›s launch October 25th 2017.
SAGE Group relocated its global corporate
headquarters and Advanced Manufacturing Facility
to the Tonsley Innovation Precinct in September. The
headquarters will house SAGE Group’s three brands:
SAGE Automation, digital transformation consultancy
Nukon and NSAG – a joint venture with Spanish
shipbuilder Navantia. Speaking at the launch event,
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said the move
has allowed SAGE achieve Industry 4.0 classification
with its Advanced Manufacturing Facility. The move
will give clients greater certainty and the best thinking
through its specialist brands all coming under one roof.
Award-winning innovation
Lockheed
In a move which reinforces Australia’s status
as a provider of world leading radar technology, the
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has doubled its
Australian order of high frequency Over the Horizon
Radar (OTHR) technology
The technology is the result of a close partnership
between Lockheed Martin Australia and Adelaide based
High Powered Amplifier systems expert, Schach RF. The
original partnership was announced in October 2016
which saw Lockheed Martin Australia and Schach RF
work closely together to successfully engineer a world
leading product. The solution not only meets stringent
performance requirements levied by NRL but also
provides them with improved logistical convenience
and deployment flexibility through modular design and
standardisation practices.
This contract award will see Lockheed Martin
Australia, and Schach RF provide next generation High
Power Amplifier solutions to NRL over the coming
years. It is a great Australian technology export story, as
well as an example of how Lockheed Martin is investing
in local partnerships that support growth and innovation
across Australia’s industry sector.
This technology will allow the NRL to further their
high frequency radar research, which could have many
potential applications, including the development of
surface wave radar programs to detect and track air and
surface targets.
Schach RF’s success was also fostered by the
Australian Department of Defence, who through its
Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group have
invested in developing these types of technologies. With
the Commonwealth’s focus on innovation, growth and
jobs, Schach RF have moved rapidly from a design and
prototyping house to a manufacturer of world-leading
High Power Amplifier technology in this sector.
The successful delivery of this cutting-edge
technology will allow these Amplifiers to be assessed
for possible future use in broader OTHR applications
globally in a market with the potential to expand
significantly over the next 10 years.
Fountx has won a second innovation award,
following up its national innovation award win at
Avalon earlier this year. Parent company TAE Aerospace
won the Queensland Defence Industry Award at the
Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2017.
The company has developed Fountx AsR, an
advanced wearable based on CSIRO’s assisted reality
technology. Fountx could save the industry tens of
millions per year in aircraft maintenance downtime and
associated costs.
REDARC Electronics
REDARC Electronics has appointed Mike Hartas
to the newly created role of Defence Account Manager.
He comes to REDARC with a wealth of experience in the
defence industry, having served 18 years as an officer in
the Australian Army and fiveyears in delivery and sales
with QinetiQ in Australia.
Mr Hartas will be responsible for the
management of defence relationships and sales within
REDARC. He will be supported by Engineering Manager
& Defence Liaison Dr David Murfett and the REDARC
Defence Project Team, including James Albrechtsen who
was awarded the Young Achiever Award at the Defence
Teaming Centre awards.