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Dominique Giannoni, chief executive officer of global technology provider Exail, visited Australia to continue enhancing the company’s local defence industry ecosystem with an eye towards securing the Commonwealth’s SEA 1905 Tranche 1 program.
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Exail, a merger between ECA Group and iXblue, heads a bid for the Royal Australian Navy’s SEA 1905 Tranche 1 – Maritime Mine Countermeasures Survey program, collaborating with industry partners UGL, Acacia Systems, and Solutions from Silicon (SfS).
The program is seeking solutions for autonomous minehunting and military survey systems which can be deployed from the shore, vessels of opportunity and Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels that will be adapted to operate the mission packages.
Under the bid, the team has committed to delivering third-generation maritime countermeasures and military survey solutions to Navy, where it will transfer technical knowledge to support them build Australian industrial capability in the field.
To Giannoni, Exail’s offering will enable the rapid integration of autonomous technology into the Royal Australian Navy.
“SEA 1905 project is critical to the Royal Australian Navy and time is of the essence. This is why Exail is preparing to deliver the capability right now with its Australian partners: we are prioritising efficiency in every step. Through our diligent approach, we know we can hit the ground running on Project SEA 1905 as soon as the decision is made,” he said.
“Our partnership with UGL, Acacia Systems, and SfS exemplifies our commitment to working hand in hand with Australian companies, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the long-term growth of Australia's defence capabilities.
“Furthermore, we believe that the best outcome lies in the seamless complementary nature of our partnerships, where each partner excels in their domain of expertise. By fostering the most optimised organisation, Exail is ensuring that every aspect of our collaboration brings value for money for Australia.”
If successful, UGL is expected to serve as a hub for Exail’s mine countermeasures, military survey, and robotic autonomous systems in Australia.
Meanwhile, South Australian defence software and engineering company Acacia Systems will be trained to maintain Exail’s UMISOFT mission management software and Sydney’s SfS will support the integration of mine warfare tactical command software into the UMIS.
“Our collaboration with Exail presents a unique opportunity to advance Australia’s defence industry,” said Terry Nichols, UGL general manager, Defence.
“Together, we are committed to delivering state-of-the-art robotics solutions while ensuring a smooth transition of IP to support Australia’s long-term sovereignty and technological advancement. Added to this, our national footprint and access to one of Australia’s largest supply chains means that Defence can deploy the SEA 1905 capabilities whenever and wherever they are needed, confident that support is always readily and immediately available.”
