Saab Australia has completed the relocation of its deployable health facility from Sweden to Victoria.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price today officially opened Saab’s Deployable Health Capability Centre of Excellence in Hawthorn, saying it was an exciting occasion for the company.
“This centre’s highly skilled team of Saab experts, combined with industry and academia partnerships, will allow for the development and export of exceptional deployable health solutions to military and humanitarian operations globally,” Minister Price said.
“It will help strengthen deployable health capability through continual improvements to technology and equipment, and access to emerging technologies.
“It will also help create supply chain resilience and aid the development of sovereign industry capability through engagement with local suppliers and partners.”
The Global Deployable Health Capability Centre of Excellence will contribute to the continuing support of the ADF’s Joint Project 2060 Phase 3 – the Deployable Heath Capability.
“Saab globally has been delivering expert deployable health capability for over 30 years. With the capability technology transfer from Europe to Australia, the CoE will bring together the best of industry partnerships to ensure export of world leading capability out of Australia, to the world," Saab Australia Managing Director, Andy Keough, said. “Saab’s increased local development of deployable health solutions, in addition to the establishment of the CoE is a testament to our growing capability. This coupled with our local supplier engagement to foster innovation and product development, will further increase sovereign industry capability and supply chain resilience.
In addition to the opening of the Centre of Excellence, Saab has today signed contracts with two key Australian industry delivery partners of the Deployable Health Capability – Aspen Medical and Global Defence Solutions.
Aspen Medical will deliver clinical and operational medical training to ADF personnel, under a contract valued at $6.7 million, while Global Defence Solutions will deliver the deployable infrastructure aspects of JP2060 Phase 3, consisting of hard and soft shelters and other deployable infrastructure elements.
The $38.4 million contract with Global Defence Solutions has enabled them to double their local workforce.
“These are important milestones for Saab, Aspen Medical and Global Defence Solutions, both for the successful delivery of the Deployable Health Capability and for the cooperation of Australian defence industry,” Minister Price said.
“Saab is a strategic and long-term partner for the ADF and the Centre of Excellence presents an opportunity for further engagement and innovation with the ADF and Australian industry.
“I am looking forward to leveraging engagement with Saab for innovation and the awareness of new product development in support of ADF operational outcomes."