Edited 6 Nov, 0838
Northrop Grumman has completed of the proof-of-concept phase of its Hollow Core Optical Fibre project, delivered in partnership with the University of Adelaide under the Defence Trailblazer program.
This milestone represents a significant advancement towards South Australia entering Northrop Grumman’s Global Supply Chain in support of future defence capabilities.
The next phase will focus on transitioning this cutting-edge technology from research to commercialisation, creating opportunities for South Australian suppliers and strengthening Australia’s sovereign industrial capability.
“This project is a great example of how collaboration between government, industry and research can deliver real outcomes for Australia’s sovereign defence capability. Northrop Grumman Australia is proud to work alongside the University of Adelaide, and our South Australian partners to advance this world-leading photonics technology. We look forward to the next phase of development and the opportunity to scale this innovation for national and global defence applications," Rob Denney, Country Executive at Northrop Grumman Australia, said.
“The ability to domestically fabricate fibres for Fibre Optic Gyroscopes is essential for Australia’s sovereign capability in supporting our Australian Defence Force," Dr Sanjay Mazumdar, Executive Director, Defence Trailblazer said.
“This partnership with Northrop Grumman, University of Adelaide and Defence Trailblazer is a significant step forward in generating a sovereign capability for Australia. The project team is in an excellent position to deliver more complex structures, for future fabrication tasks.”
“The University of Adelaide through the Defence Trailblazer supported by the Australian government Department of Education has been delighted to work with Northrop Grumman on the development of next generation optical fibres for inertial navigation. We are committed to translating these scientific breakthroughs to into disruptive advanced manufacturing opportunities by partnering with South Australian Defence Manufacturer Norseld Photonics," Piers Lincoln, the Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS) Manager, University of Adelaide, said.
“The successful completion of this proof of concept is a testament to South Australia’s world-class Defence research capability. It highlights the importance of collaboration between government, industry and academia to solve complex challenges and advancing technologies that strengthen our national resilience," Michael Brown, Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, Defence and Space Industries, said.