LOCAL MANUFACTURERS SHOULD WIN MILITARY VEHICLE CONTRACTS
Local manufactures need to be involved in Land 400, the project to upgrade Australia’s military vehicles, according to Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert.
Adelaidenow reports that Mr Robert told a Defence Teaming Centre dinner in Adelaide on the weekend that a lot of work on the first part of the project, replacements for the Australian Light Armoured Vehicles, should be done by innovative local companies.
Speaking to the South Australian audience, Mr Robert said, “I’m looking for the defence industry to give the Government half a chance to do a lot of this work in Australia.”
South Australia isn’t the only state interested in the work. Victoria, and specifically Geelong has shown interest.
According to the City of Geelong website, in May five global firms took part in the Land 400 Industry Day in Geelong. Those involved toured advanced manufacturing firms and facilities in the area.
Opening the event, Geelong Mayor Cr Darryn Lyons said, “Today is about demonstrating to global defence contractors that Geelong has the infrastructure, the expertise and the work force to serve as the home of Land 400 – the Australian Defence Force’s military vehicle contract.
He said that the Land400 program is the largest armoured vehicle procurement contract in the world at present and added, “The full Land400 program if awarded to Geelong would deliver an estimated 3,740 direct and indirect jobs to Victoria with some 2,450 of those here in Geelong.”
Read more at http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/news/local-manufacturers-should-win-military-vehicle-contracts-minister-n2514747#Ilis85bwdAByoMOD.99
