The Commonwealth Government is facing important decisions on the most ambitious procurement program for the Australian Army, Land 400 - the choice of future combat vehicles to carry our troops safely in, through and out of battle zones.
The Victorian Government is strongly advocating that Victoria has the end-to-end capability to deliver the range of vehicles the Army will need.
Victoria’s Minister for Manufacturing, David Hodgett MP, is driving his state’s case.
“Victoria is the nation’s powerhouse of military vehicle design, assembly, integration and delivery of military vehicles to the ADF and global markets. This includes high-level communications and combat systems integration, testing and through-life support,” Minister Hodgett said.
“That’s bolstered by our advanced manufacturing capability which produces products that have been proven on our purpose-built blast testing ground and on the harshest of overseas deployments, when it really counts.”
Victoria’s defence vehicle capability is widely distributed across the State, from the capital city and suburbs, such as Dandenong, Bayswater and Broadmeadows, to the regional centres of Geelong and Bendigo, and the border towns of Albury/Wodonga. This integrated network of industry capability forms an experienced supply chain that spans the state and is enmeshed in the leading global defence primes.
Geelong has taken a leading role in positioning its local industry in preparation for the Land 400 bid. Its world-class research and development capabilities at Deakin’s Geelong campus strengthen the State’s leadership in advanced manufacturing technology to support the delivery of Australia’s defence capabilities.
Thales is one example of Victoria’s capability in action. The company manufactures the Bushmaster in Bendigo, a world-class product that is arguably Australia’s most high-profile military vehicle success story. So much so, it is now being sold to defence forces around the world, including Indonesia, Japan, the UK and the Netherlands. And now Hawkei is undergoing its final shakedown in its quest to be the next high-technology Protected Mobility Vehicle for the Australian Army, with global export appeal.
In Port Melbourne, Supacat is delivering advanced design and engineering for a new Special Operations Vehicle prototype for evaluation by Defence.
Mercedes-Benz in Mulgrave is ensuring its versatile G-wagon for the ADF will suit rugged Australian conditions.
Prime systems integrator Elbit Systems Australia is headquartered in Port Melbourne and remains focused across Australia on embedding battle management systems onto military vehicle platforms.
This is just a glimpse of the critical cluster of military vehicle capability in Victoria, backed by the most highly skilled, educated and productive workforce in the nation.
Victoria has the demonstrated capability to produce a steady pipeline of military vehicle development. The Commonwealth faces end-of-lifecycle retirement of the current ASLAV and M113 armoured vehicles. Future armoured vehicles must be capable of maintaining dominance in changing combat environments, with networked systems, the fire-power and agility to out-manoeuvre opponents and neutralise threats.
Minister Hodgett said that Victoria has competitive advantages that are demonstrable.
“We have a critical mass of Victorian-based global prime contractors with military vehicle production and associated technology and systems integration capabilities.
“We have an internationally competitive, innovative industry supply chain with capacity to design, assemble, integrate and deliver military vehicles to the ADF and export markets.
“Victoria has been home to Australia’s automotive industry for over sixty-five years and during that time we have developed advanced design, prototype development and component production capabilities, and world-class engineering skills,” he said.
Victoria is home to the DMO’s Land Systems Division in Melbourne’s Victoria Barracks, where the majority of the Army’s major equipment and sustainment projects are managed.
In a double act unmatched in the nation, Victoria has world-class, military vehicle prototype testing facilities at Monegeetta Proving Ground and blast testing facilities at the Proof and Experimental Establishment in Graytown.
Strategically nearby are the infrastructure, training areas and facilities for military combat armoured vehicle training at Army’s Puckapunyal Training Area. Puckapunyal-based Defence units include the Combined Arms Training Centre and the Transport Wing of the Army Logistic Training Centre.
Beyond specialist primes in Victoria, Victoria is pushing the technological boundaries through collaboration. Partnerships between Victorian industry, research organisations and universities are developing and commercialising high-performance, specialised military products.
“Victoria is fortunate to have a ready pool of technological expertise to draw upon, including the Defence Science Technology Organisation, the Defence Materiel Technology Centre and the Defence Science Institute in Melbourne,” Minister Hodgett said.
“This is an area where Victoria leads. We are harnessing the best talents of our academics and researchers to accelerate innovations for real-world application.
“By turbocharging our R&D sector, we’re not only creating the intellectual property but also implementing the R&D to ensure our defence personnel get the very latest technologies.
“The Victorian Government understands the importance of these first-to-market moves. That’s why the State Government, through the Department of State Development and Innovation, has a close business engagement model with Defence and Victoria’s defence industry, while harnessing the global reach of its 17 overseas Victorian Government Business Offices.”
*Matt Lynch is the director; Aviation Defence and Aerospace with the State Government of Victoria
