Australia awards $16.5 million in defence grants

The Australian government has awarded grants to more than 50 businesses across the country that provide priority defence capabilities with the funding supporting hundreds of jobs and a future made in Australia. The first rounds of the Defence Industry Development Grants program have been completed, with 58 grants worth $16.5 million awarded to Defence suppliers in four streams, including export, skilling, security and sovereign industrial priorities. More than 200 employees in defence businesses will also receive new technical training through the skilling stream of the program. Several businesses will uplift their physical, personal and cyber security posture to meet Defence security requirements through the security stream of the program. Four businesses in South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria were awarded grants of $1 million to directly support manufacturing under the sovereign industrial priorities stream, including components used in submarines, aerospace, guided weapons and explosive ordnance projects. The grants will be used to make or acquire a diverse range of components and support upskilling for production and development in areas such as rocket motors, armoured vehicles, radar and surveillance systems, communication systems, drone and anti-drone technologies, robotics, submarines and cyber security. The competitive grant program is open to applications year-round and will provide matching grants of 50 per cent until 2028. The grant recipients are listed below. Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said: “This investment by the Albanese Government in local businesses and jobs will provide vital support to people who are making a critical contribution to our national security and a future made in Australia. The Albanese government is committed to supporting Australian small to medium enterprises and growing the skills of our workforce to build Australia’s sovereign capability, global competitiveness, technical superiority and national security. “The new Defence Industry Development Grants initiative creates one cohesive program, contributing to a stronger and more resilient sovereign defence industry that is able to meet the challenges of the future.” Sovereign industrial priorities stream Nu Metric Manufacturing (SA) will receive $1 million to acquire a hydroform press for manufacturing complex sheet metal components used across naval shipbuilding, guided weapons and aircraft. Veem (WA) will receive $1 million to procure a multi-axis CNC machine and scanner for manufacturing of propellers and other complex components for multiple maritime platforms. Advanced Composite Structure Australia (VIC) will receive $949,282 to procure equipment to automate composite manufacturing for components in the Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicle. Hardman Bros (VIC) will receive $944,036 to procure a CNC gear grinding machine to enhance manufacturing capabilities to meet the demand of the supply chain related to Defence land programs. Infinite Manufacturing (VIC) will receive $925,947 to purchase a gantry type high speed 5-axis machine to enable large scale production of precision engineered components for multiple Defence programs. Black Sky Aerospace (QLD) will receive $910,389 to acquire planetary mixers of different capacities to enhance the manufacturing of solid rocket propellant for guided weapons. Mincham Aviation (SA) will receive $891,621 to acquire a CNC machine, CNC profile cutters and associated equipment to support the manufacture of components for Australian Defence Force aircraft. Intellidesign (QLD) will receive $774,347 to acquire a surface mount placement machine and high resolution X-ray inspection capability to support advanced electronics manufacturing and supply chain for existing and upcoming Defence projects. Frontline Manufacturing (QLD) will receive $667,396 to upgrade an armour processing facility to support manufacturing of the Redback and Boxer armoured combat vehicles. Australian Intelligent Machines (VIC) will receive $564,826 to acquire additive manufacturing and laser fabrication machinery for the production of counter-UAV systems to deliver counter-drone capability to Defence. Total Precision (VIC) will receive $490,678 to purchase equipment for high accuracy multi-axis machining of components used in the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Orbital (WA) will receive $473,316 to procure equipment for flight testing to develop heavy fuel engine for unmanned aerial vehicles. Rosebank Engineering (SA) will receive $254,261 to purchase and install equipment for F/A-18F Super Hornet sustainment and surface treatment capability. SMETEC Services (NSW) will receive $81,106 to acquire and commission advanced coating (painting) facilities for fabricated metal components used in armoured combat vehicles. Coastal Aviation (QLD) will receive $73,307 to procure a CNC router and a hydraulic press brake machine to automate the production of high-quality components for UAV and other defence platforms. Export stream Alfatron (VIC) will receive $250,000 to acquire a high precision hole drilling machine for printed circuit boards (PCBs) to manufacture high-density PCBs for lightweight drones and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems for submarines, naval ship building, autonomous systems, and guided weapons. DroneShield Group (NSW) will receive $250,000 to purchase capital equipment to accelerate Drone Sentry-X Mk2 manufacturing for export to the United States of America. Australian Performance Vehicles (VIC) will receive $248,420 to purchase equipment for the manufacture of a specialised gunner restraint harness for a major defence land vehicle platform. PFG Group (TAS) will receive $239,879 to purchase capital equipment for the manufacturing of seaboats for defence export market. DefendTex Military Products (VIC) will receive $226,839 to acquire electronic nano-coating equipment for manufacturing robust robotics system components for guided weapons. McMahon Metal Fabrication (SA) will receive $225,529 to acquire a computerised numeric control (CNC) brake press and collaborative robot welding machine for the fabrication of aluminium componentry for defence surface and sub-surface vessels. Trakka Systems (VIC) will receive $218,303 to purchase capital equipment for the precision manufacture of sophisticated wiring, cabling harnesses, and looms which are critical in the supply of high intensity searchlight and electro-optical systems to military platforms worldwide. SMETEC Services (NSW) will receive $218,373 to purchase, install and commission a fibre laser cutter for the manufacturing of large steel sheeting to support the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle, and the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise. Jayben Australia (TAS) will receive $161,857 to upgrade the manufacturing facilities for the production of lightweight telescopic booms for the retrieval of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Skilling stream Franmarine Underwater Services (WA) will receive $133,375 to implement a training program to train current and new employees in specialised diving for underwater sustainment. Asset Reliability Inspections (SA) will receive $101,712 to train technicians in non-destructive testing to support maritime defence maintenance and production. Century Engineering (SA) will receive $81,916 to acquire and upskill technical and engineering skills in manufacturing and cyber security for naval shipbuilding. MG Engineering (SA) will receive $75,038 to enhance heavy naval fabrication skills specific to manufacturing of new complex defence naval platform components. Heat Treatment (QLD) will receive $62,400 to upskill staff in the technical aspects of heat treatment processes for defence and aerospace applications. International Centre for Complex Project Management (ACT) will receive $38,565 to deliver training to build organisational capability and improve complex project delivery within defence supply chain. Orontide Alphablast (WA) will receive $34,674 to uplift existing capabilities, aligning their workforce technical skills for advanced manufacturing, surface treatments and technical welding in the defence maritime sector. UAV Vision (VIC) will receive $25,825 to integrate specialised engineering techniques in the intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance field for unmanned aerial system applications. C4I Solutions (NSW) will receive $25,000 to enhance its staff’s cybersecurity capabilities to support the detection and mitigation of cyber threats and vulnerabilities within ICT systems and networks deployed across Defence. Cognitio Digital (QLD) will receive $20,459 to enhance its team’s expertise through essential training and certifications on network security and cyber resilience. MEMKO (VIC) will receive $10,100 to upskill its current workforce on digital engineering and simulation capabilities to support the design and validation of land vehicles 3D experience software tools. SYPAQ Systems (VIC) will receive $8,275 to provide technical education for the development of warfare fundamentals, radar theory and cyber operations. Moon Bay Trading CO (WA) will receive $7,772 to upskill existing employees to provide maintenance to defence security systems and fire protection systems. JVAT Solutions (VIC) will receive $6,538 to upskill current resources and increase resourcing for Systems Engineering and Cyber Security. Security stream Elysium (ACT) will receive $100,000 to uplift the physical security to protect training on testing equipment and classified teaching space for the defence industry. Softel Systems (VIC) will receive $100,000 to increase physical and cyber security to meet Defence requirements. Lunar Outpost Oceania (VIC) will receive $96,272 to uplift its physical and cyber security posture to meet Defence requirements. Flying Colours Aviation (QLD) will receive $60,607 to purchase essential equipment to enhance security controls to meet Defence security requirements. Valley Precise Global (SA) will receive $58,939 to increase physical and personal security to meet Defence security requirements. QPE Advanced Machining (SA) will receive $55,443 to purchase and install advanced security equipment to meet Defence requirements. Rosebank Engineering (VIC) will receive $49,900 to install security systems across multiple locations, increasing capability as a provider to Defence. Sypaq Systems (VIC) will receive $49,047 in two separate grants to uplift physical security controls to meet Defence security requirements. Depth Logistics (QLD) will receive $48,741 to install security systems across multiple locations, increasing capability as a provider to Defence. EPE Oceania (QLD) will receive $44,309 to upgrade security systems to meet Defence contractual requirements. HTA (VIC) will receive $40,244 to upgrade the physical security of their manufacturing facility in line with Defence security requirements increasing capability as a provider to the defence industry. AML3D (SA) will receive $36,036 to enhance security controls to protect manufacturing technology and supply chains. Arex (NSW) will receive $24,540 to purchase and install advanced security equipment to meet Defence requirements. Ron Allum Deepsea Services (NSW) will receive $13,507 to increase physical and personal security to meet Defence and Defence prime security requirements. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]