Two key defence industries – combat clothing and acoustic technologies and systems – have passed their first ‘health check’, showing that Australia can remain self reliant in these priority industry capabilities.

 

Australian companies will also have a better chance of participating in defence industry supply chains, with Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems signing on to the next stage of the Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program.

 

Minister for Defence Materiel Senator Kim Carr said the health checks will help ensure the Australian Defence Force’s self-reliance and operational capability.

 

“Health Checks ensure that these important industries will continue to operate in Australia. They examine Australia’s ability to undertake important industry activities such as developing a standard combat uniform, and designing and installing acoustic technologies. This includes our ability to develop new technologies in these areas,” Senator Carr said.

 

"The Health checks have found that both of these priority industry capabilities are currently healthy and are expected to remain so, although ongoing monitoring will be needed as Defence refines its domestic supply and support requirements beyond the middle of the decade."

 

Across Australia, new opportunities to participate in global defence supply chains will open up after Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems signed new annexes to Global Supply Chain Program Deeds today.

 

Senator Carr said that by entering the next stage of the GSC Program both companies were demonstrating their commitment to Australian industry.

 

“The Global Supply Chain Program actively assists Australian defence industries to enter into the supply chains of multinational businesses. The Program has been very successful to date, with Australian industry – primarily small and medium enterprises – winning over $400 million in contracts,” Senator Carr said.

 

Also announced today was a trial program aimed at lifting the fuel efficiency of the Royal Australian Air Force C-130 transport fleet involving Rolls Royce.

More information on the Combat Clothing and Acoustic Technologies and Systems PIC Health Checks is at http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/pic/;  the Global Supply Chain program at http://www.dplusi.defence.gov.au; and the fuel management trial at http://www.airforce.gov.au