Defence awards nine Defence Innovation Hub contracts worth $19 million

April 11, 2022
Gregor Ferguson
News

The Department of Defence has awarded nine Defence Innovation Hub contracts worth $19 million to develop new technologies that could help protect and sustain Australian Defence Force personnel in the field.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said, “I am delighted to see this investment in businesses and a research organisation to help Defence harness cutting-edge capabilities that could help protect and sustain ADF personnel in the field.

“We are investing in a $5.31 million contract with South Australian company, RFTEQ, to develop a unique counter-improvised threat solution that could detect complex threat signals and enhance the protection of Army personnel and equipment.”

Two of the contracts with Victorian-based companies aim to improve the efficiency and endurance of ADF platforms: under a $3.63 million contract, QinetiQ will develop a thermoelectric heat recovery system for Navy vessels; and under a $2.43 million contract, RUAG Australia will continue the development of additive technologies to enable the reliable repair of damaged metal components, and thereby reduce lifecycle operating costs.

“Several of the new contracts will focus on the development of uncrewed systems that could improve the safety of our soldiers, sailors and aviators by enabling them to respond to threats remotely,” Minister Price said.

Under a $1.04 million contract, New South Wales-based company Blueprint will develop an advanced expeditionary system for remote underwater intervention that could reduce risk to personnel through the ability to perform tasks remotely.

Canberra-based company Boresight is another beneficiary, having been awarded a $1.28 million contract to develop smart, expendable aerial target drones for use in training exercises to improve Australia’s ability to defend itself from aerial drone threats.

Melbourne-based Defendtex Research Labs has been awarded a $1.84 million contract to develop an uncrewed ground vehicle that could offer a precision strike capability against enemy armoured vehicles.

New contracts announced under the Defence Innovation Hub:

Organisation	State	Contract Value (GST incl.)	Description of innovation
RFTEQ Pty Ltd	SA	$5.31 million	To develop a unique counter improvised threat solution that could detect, identify, and neutralise complex threat signals to provide an increased force protection capability.
QinetiQ Pty Ltd	VIC	$3.63 million	To develop a thermoelectric heat recovery system for Navy vessels that could offer improvements in energy, fuel efficiency, range and endurance.
RUAG Australia Pty Ltd	VIC	$2.43 million	To continue the development of additive technologies that enable the reliable and repeatable repair of damaged metal components. If successful, this technology could offer an improvement in operational agility while reducing lifecycle operating costs.
Defendtex Research Labs Pty Ltd	VIC	$1.84 million	To develop an uncrewed ground vehicle that could offer a precision strike capability against enemy armoured vehicles.
Sentient Vision Systems Pty Ltd	VIC	$1.74 million	To develop an electro-optical camera array system that could be used at a high altitude to enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Boresight Pty Ltd	ACT	$1.28 million	To develop affordable and expendable swarming aerial target drones with improvised or dedicated counter-small uncrewed aerial system capabilities.
Arkwright Technologies Pty Ltd	SA	$1.07 million	To develop a vibration monitoring system for Navy vessels that could reduce the vessels life-cycle operating and sustainment costs.
Blueprint Pty Ltd	NSW	$1.04 million	To develop an advanced expeditionary system for remote underwater intervention that could reduce risk to personnel through the ability to perform tasks remotely.
Daronmont Technologies Pty Ltd	SA	$965,000	To develop a passive radar technology that could be integrated for maritime vessels and enhance situational awareness.