The Government has announced it enhancing the capability of the ADF to support its vital air assets through the approval to purchase a new fleet of petrol tankers and refuelling vehicles.
“The Turnbull Government is committed to ensuring the ADF has the equipment it needs to achieve the Government’s defence strategy and to create and sustain Australian Defence Industry jobs nation wide,” Minister of Defence Industry Christopher Pyne said in a joint announcement with the Minister of Defence Senator Marise Payne.
"The contracts will be worth between $150 and $200 million to industry, with approximately two thirds of the work, including assembly and maintenance, to be done in Australia." Minister Pyne said.
“This new capability will enable the ADF to more effectively refuel and defuel its air assets, resulting in more agile and responsive defence force.”
Minister Pyne said the Government is setting a new direction for the defence industry in Australia that, where possible and practical, should use Australian companies to garner both the economic benefits of a thriving domestic defence sector, as well as contributing to ability of the ADF to respond to Australia's national security requirements.
Minister Payne said that the new aviation refuelling fleet will allow the ADF to efficiently and effectively refuel and defuel its entire fleet of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
“This decision relates directly to two key concepts in the Defence White Paper, to buy and build Australian and to invest in key enablers essential for the ADF to maintain its effectiveness.”
“This project will provide the ADF with a new fleet of high capacity tankers, medium capacity tankers and elevating hydrant vehicles to be located at all military aviation bases across Australia, as well as Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth,” she said.