Following a tour of the production floor, the minister was also shown the latest development from Barrett Communications in the defence space, the PRC-4090 Tactical HF SDR, a military-grade HF transceiver weighing in at 2.95 kilograms.

Launched last year, the software defined-radio (SDR) includes a 2.05 kilogram 16Ah Li-ion battery that can be fitted along the side of the radio.

And while the software is clearly geared towards the wider export market – coming supplied with five languages included as standard – Barrett Communications chief operating officer Khes Ludher said that the technology plays into broader strategic thrusts towards national sovereignty.

“The Australian government is focusing on sovereign capability to the Australian Defence Industry and we are excited to showcase our homegrown capability," Ludher said.

"We currently hold contracts with the ADF but with the government’s focus on sovereign innovation and manufacturing for defence, we are aiming to be part of the unique requirement within the HF and VHF communications market.”

Barrett Communications is a privately-owned WA-based designer and manufacturer of high frequency and very high frequency radio communications equipment to defence, critical infrastructure, emergency, and disaster management and humanitarian markets globally.

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The recent PRC-4090 offering comes as a multi-configured system offering manpack, mobile and base station configurations with selectable power outputs of 10, 30, 125 and 150 Watts.