Project to enhance ADF equipment approved
The Australian government has approved a project worth up to $1 billion over 13 years to improve the equipment used by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The Integrated Soldier Systems project will deliver a range of equipment to the ADF to ensure it has the ability to meet emerging threats, be less detectable, less susceptible to enemy attacks and able to fight longer and more effectively in challenging conditions.
The first tranche will deliver supplements to the basic equipment used by soldiers including body armour, helmets, hearing and eye protection and load carriage equipment; as well as field equipment including water purifiers, helmet torches, storage bags, cooking gear and sleeping bags.
The Department of Defence is currently investing up to $240 million between now and 2023, with the flexibility to update and change things as technology develops in the future.
In future, the project will continue to enhance the basic equipment used by soldiers, as well as looking at things like hand-held translators, portable UAS and ideas like exoskeletons or mule unmanned vehicles to help soldiers carry their equipment.
Christopher Pyne, Australia’s Minister for Defence, said: ‘This investment under LAND 125 Phase 4 will ensure our soldiers have the mobility and protection to deploy quickly and achieve their mission as an integral component of the ADF.
‘Delivery of the subsequent tranches will be subject to a range of variables centred on incorporating emerging technologies, some yet to be fully developed, to ensure our soldiers continue to have the best capabilities available.’
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Australia invests $1.4 billion in additional AMRAAM buy
Some of the missiles ordered can be used on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and the F35-A Lightning.
-
German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year
More than 1,200 Dingo 1 and Dingo 2 models have been built and deployed by some 10 countries. The latest Dingo 3 pulls through from user inputs and, like earlier versions, is also based on a UNIMOG chassis.
-
Hungary’s Gamma Technical expands vehicle range
The company’s new variants of 4×6 and 6×6 vehicles are designed to be modular for a greater variety of missions and also flexibility at a subsystem level, for example transmission and engine.
-
US Army seeks nearly $900 million to accelerate development and acquisition of CUAS capabilities
The branch plans to speed up the building and procurement of kinetic and non-kinetic systems for fixed, semi-fixed and on-the-move operations.