Australian innovation hub contracts awarded
Defence Innovation Hub contracts have been issued to three Australian companies for development of three new defence technologies, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 14 May.
The first contract, valued at $659,000, went to Aerospace and Mechanical Consulting Engineers for the development of a lightweight armour solution for Australian Defence Force aircraft. The solution uses panels designed with new materials and ballistic protection level.
Unmanned Aerial Systems was awarded $293,000 for innovation on combining features of a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft in order to increase performance, efficiency and capability.
Defence Materials Technology Centre will develop armour for soldiers that is lightweight with improved protection levels and functional integration under its $287,000 funding.
Funded at around $640 million over the decade to 2025-26, the Defence Innovation Hub accepts proposals on innovations at all stages, from early stage concept exploration and technology demonstration through to advanced prototypes for integration, test and evaluation.
Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, said: ‘Investing in defence innovation will not only build the innovation capabilities of Australian industry and research organisations, it will also deliver innovative capability solutions for use by defence.’
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