Patrick Durrant | Sydney
Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has made a keynote speech at the US National Defense Industrial Association in Washington, highlighting the capability of Australian defence industry and the plans to grow it further.
Minister Pyne emphasised the Turnbull Government's focus on Defence, saying it was "very much at the very centre of our policy agenda".
"I want to leave you in no doubt of the scale of the opportunities that will be available to you; the opportunities for exports and, more importantly, partnerships with Australian industry."
He said the Government was determined to involve Australian industry "in every procurement project, large or small".
"We make no bones about it. The Australian Government regards a strong economy, strong skills sets and strong industry as crucial elements of strong defence."
"I want to leave you in no doubt of the scale of the opportunities that will be available to you."
Minister Pyne added another objective was to maximise the export potential of Australian defence industry by developing global supply opportunities.
He provided the Australian success story of the CEA Technologies CEAFAR phased array as one example of the existing capability and said there was no reason why Australia couldn't follow the path set by Spain as it built up its naval export industry from the 1950s.
"Spain's major shipbuilding capability in the 1950s was almost non-existent. Successive governments in Spain committed to developing a domestic navel shipbuilding industry. Navantia now not only makes vessels for the Spanish Navy, but has also built vessels over the past five years for nine nations across the world. These contracts are diverse, ranging from Australia's new Landing Helicopter Decks to Offshore Patrol Vessels for Venezuela," he said.
"And that is my ambition as Australia's aspiration and what we are setting out to do."
Pushing for a greater role for Australia as the regional maintenance hub for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Pyne pointed to British defence planners a century ago as they considered taking advantage of "Australia's strategic, secure location and making it the site of a mighty arsenal to supply their needs".
"Today, we offer a highly capable industry base in a secure location in the Asia Pacific, a perfect place to support the Joint Strike Fighter Global Support Solution.
"And it is an absolute priority for us to capitalise on the increasing volume of opportunities this program will provide as production rates triple over the next few years."
During the passionate speech, the Minister also made reference to the recent announcement of Lockheed Martin as the Future Submarine preferred Combat System Integrator. He cited the many examples where Australia and the US had collaborated on submarine technology, namely Mk 48 torpedoes and the Collins-class combat system but also home grown innovations such as the JDAM bomb kits used by Hornets and other aircraft.
In closing he said that the Government was determined to use the "Australian Defence dollar" to drive a high technology, advanced manufacturing future for the nation.
"We are determined to make this vision real, to making it happen, that is my job as Minister for Defence Industry, and you are our partners in this task."