The contracts will also see the development of cyber-management capability and enhanced security countermeasures, with this technology looking to help the Australian Army monitor network traffic and mitigate attacks on its network.

“Innovation is critical to build and sustain the Australian Defence Force’s capability edge,” Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said.

“Australia benefits from an industrial base of many agile small to medium enterprises like Penten.

“The government is committed to investing in Australian jobs and small and medium enterprises to develop our defence industry.”

Established in 2015, Penten has seen substantial growth from a team of four to over 50 employees, with the company seeking to build “world-leading technologies that protect Australia’s most classified information from sophisticated cyber adversaries”.

Senator for the ACT, Zed Seselja, said the announcement is a significant investment in a local defence industry company, supporting the Canberra local economy.

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“These contracts will not only allow Penten to support local jobs and skills in Canberra, but will ensure members of the Canberra defence industry community continue to be engaged in developing cutting-edge technologies for Australia’s Defence Force,” Senator Seselja said.

“I congratulate Penten on the work they have done so far in their contribution to our nation’s security, and strongly support the opportunities the Defence Innovation Hub affords to Canberran businesses to contribute to our nation’s Defence.”

The contracts awarded to Penten were selected as part of Army Innovation Day 2018, which called for innovative solutions for the next-generation Army.