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Defence has awarded multimillion-dollar contracts to 10 local firms from across the country.
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The Commonwealth government has awarded a combined $27 million in contracts to 10 local businesses via the Defence Innovation Hub, in a bid to support the development of next-generation capabilities.
NSW-based Mission Systems has secured the largest contract ($5.5 million), expected to fund the development of a radar system for small and medium uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
The capability is tipped to deliver enhanced radar imagery in support of Australia Army operations.
Canberra-based cyber security company Penten landed the second largest contract, receiving $4.1 million to develop an innovative method for active cyber defence, leveraging artificial intelligence to bolster protections across Defence applications.
Three Queensland-based firms, including Athena Artificial Intelligence, are also among the recipients.
Athena has secured funding to develop an automated decision support tool, which could leverage AI to provide rapid guidance to end users when making tactical decisions.
Other recipients include:
| Organisation | State | Contract Value (GST incl.) | Description of innovation |
| CUBIC Defence Australia Pty Ltd | QLD | $3.72 million | To develop a deployable waste-to-energy system using microwave energy to convert waste into sanitised biofuel that could provide additional power to bases and improve waste management for the deployed Land Force. |
| BAE Systems Australia Limited | SA | $3.17 million | To develop a long-range passive surveillance sensor system that could provide an early warning capability for incoming threats, reduce data bandwidth and power consumption. |
| BIA5 Pty Ltd | QLD | $2.63 million | To continue the development of an innovative electronic trip flare device, allowing soldiers to more effectively secure and guard areas on the modern battlefield. |
| AMC Search Limited | TAS | $2.07 million | To develop a set of sovereign sensor modules for autonomous underwater vehicles. If successful, this technology could extend the capabilities of existing and future autonomous underwater vehicle platforms in the maritime domain. |
| Tectonica Australia Pty Ltd | VIC | $874,000 | To develop a sophisticated rifle mounted sensor using thermal weapon sight that could improve shot accuracy for soldiers during day or night operations. |
| Outlander Solutions Pty Ltd | ACT | $698,000 | To develop a battlefield command, control and situational awareness software system using artificial intelligence to graphically represent the common operational picture using modern gaming technology. If successful, this could reduce cognitive burden and visualise real world operational scenarios for Defence capability. |
| Acacia Systems Pty Ltd | SA | $437,000 | To develop an immersive platform using maritime command team tactical data and recordings of operator stress, fatigue and actions. If successful, this innovation offers to significantly enhance decision-maker capability for Defence. |
“Investing in Australian innovation is critical to building our national defence capability,” Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said.
Minister Conroy said this latest tranche of contracts reflect the government’s ambitions to strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial capability.
Industry and research organisations have been invited to submit applications for the next round of Defence Innovation Hub contracts.
[Related: Orbital UAV lands US defence contract ]
