Team Australia to tackle AUSA

Australian companies hoping to do business in the USA, and even Japan, will find some new opportunities opening up for them in Washington over the next couple of months.
The next couple of months are shaping up as a watershed moment in the effort to build profile for Australia's world-class defence industry.

In October, Team Australia delegates will be travelling to Washington DC to build on the momentum established over the past few years in the Australian defence industry. Delegates will be exhibiting their products and know-how at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Conference, one of the few major defence trade shows held in the US.

AUSA is the world's largest land power forum, bringing together the decision makers from US Army, Active National Guard, Reserve, and representatives from US and international defence suppliers. The conference is an excellent opportunity for Team Australia to achieve maximum exposure in front of an expected record attendance.

ADI will be making a big splash again this year with the Bushmaster armoured vehicle going on display as part of the Oshkosh Truck Corporation stand. Oshkosh recently confirmed that, under a licensing agreement signed with ADI Limited, it will be authorized to market, manufacture and support Bushmaster armoured vehicles for North American customers, as well as to countries eligible for Foreign Military Sales (FMS). This recent development is a big deal for both companies as AUSA will shine the spotlight on the vehicle and, with the recent agreement, should make winning future deals with the US Military less complicated. In fact the Bushmaster is currently at Aberdeen Proving Grounds undergoing testing by the US Army.

In addition to the conference, two Australian government agencies in the US, Invest Australia and the Defence Materiel Organisation, are teaming up to organise a number of networking events to bring American defence companies together with Team Australia for the purposes of increasing business and investment opportunities.

The first event is in collaboration with the US Commercial Service (America's Austrade equivalent) and its defence membership from the surrounding areas of Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia. It will be held on the opening day of AUSA at the Australian Embassy to match American and Australian companies and help facilitate further meetings throughout the week.

Rear Admiral Raydon Gates, Head of the Australian Defence Staff in Washington, is delivering the opening address and welcome to the group, which is expected to include over 50 American defence and aerospace companies. Admiral Gates will be followed by the spokesperson for Team Australia, who will give an overview of the companies represented in the group, their core capabilities and meeting schedule for the week. Mark Reynolds, Counsellor, Defence Materiel will wrap up the presentations, and an Invest Australia-sponsored reception in the main hall will be provided for guests to talk business, network and socialise.

Admiral Gates has been encouraged by the continuing development of the Australian defence industry, and argues that events like this build on the positive momentum established in the recent past.

As part of AUSA, the DMO is also sponsoring a Senior VIP-Industry Networking Breakfast, which will be publicised and marketed by the conference organisers to all senior participants. Again, the aim here is to expose Team Australia to senior-level decision makers in government and industry and leverage the delegation's presence.

The 2006 AUSA Conference/Team Australia delegation is comprised of the following firms: ADI, Metal Storm, Aerospace Australia, Australian Defence Apparel, Bisalloy Steels, DCI, W&E Platt, Compucat, Daronmont, Hellweg, Mobicon, and the Defence Teaming Centre.

A couple of noteworthy US developments impacting on Australian interests in the last month include:

On August 3rd Gibbs & Cox released the first images of its design for Australia's Air Warfare Destroyer. As expected the design strongly resembles the venerable US Navy DDG 51 Arleigh Burke class of Aegis Destroyer and carries a similar armament.

The US newspaper Defense News reports that Japan is looking to accelerate its Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) plans in the wake of North Korea's July missile tests. Potential business opportunities for both US and Australian firms could be on the horizon, particularly given Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's recent Tokyo visit where negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) were discussed.

Collaborative efforts between the Washington based DMO staff, Invest Australia and the US Commercial Service are under way to help drum up interest in the 2007 Australian Air Show, with the aim to bring a delegation of American aerospace companies to Australia... more on this later.

Metal Storm, in collaboration with fellow Australian firm Electro Optic Systems, is hoping to demonstrate its Redback Weapon System prototype in the United States early next year.

Lincoln Parker is the New York-based investment director for aerospace, security & defence, with Invest Australia, the Federal Government agency positioning Australia as a global business and investment destination. Lincoln.Parker@investaustralia.gov.au

By Lincoln Parker, New York