Georgia Robertson is breaking down barriers and leading the way for women in the defence sector. Georgia Robertson was told she shouldn’t do an apprenticeship as a mechanical fitter and turner. So she went out and did it. She was also told she shouldn’t enter a male-dominated engineering field. So she did. Today, her efforts have more than paid off, having worked her way up to the role of quality assurance/defence security officer at Axiom Precision Manufacturing, charged with ensuring quality manufacturing standards are met and security measures adhered to. Robertson’s pathway to a career in the defence sector began ...

A major step forward in Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding program has been achieved, with the launch of Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), NUSHIP Arafura. NUSHIP Arafura is the first of two new Arafura class OPVs being constructed in South Australia by Luerssen Australia at the world-class Osborne Naval Shipyard. Since construction began in 2018, a number of local businesses at all stages of the supply chain have been involved in the OPV program. Local industry involvement includes: Saab Australia is partnered with Luerssen on the design and integration of the Arafura class Situational Awareness System (SAS) Raytheon Australia is capability life ...

Hosted by the University of South Australia and supported by Defence SA, the Re-Engineering Australia (REA) programs saw over 100 South Australian students develop a wide range of STEM skills to design and build miniature submarines and F1 race cars. Three South Australian schools participated in Subs in Schools, with The Heights School winning first place in the remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) class, and Brighton Secondary School taking out spatial design and submarine categories. Brighton Secondary School will go on to compete in the national finals in Melbourne, from 4-8 April 2022, while The Heights School and St Peter’s ...

South Australian company DEWC Systems is one step closer to developing sovereign electronic warfare capability for Defence, after joining forces with local company REDARC Defence Systems. Under the multi-million dollar agreement, REDARC will support DEWC by designing and manufacturing capabilities to further enhance and complement DEWC’s growing portfolio of state-of-the-art electronic warfare solutions. Established in 2018, DEWC Systems has already developed a strong reputation for innovation, and as the first Australian company to launch a payload on a space capable rocket from Australian soil, helped lead Australia into the Space 4.0 era. Earlier this week, the company announced a strategic ...

Global IT and business consulting services firm CGI is establishing its new Space, Defence and Intelligence Hub in South Australia with plans to create up to 200 highly skilled technical jobs by 2024 across the country. With 80,000 consultants and professionals worldwide, the company, founded in 1976, delivers mission-critical IT systems to organisations across Australia. CGI selected South Australia as the location to expand its operations in Australia, tapping into the artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data capabilities the state has to offer. CGI is an end-to-end services provider, providing business and strategic IT consulting, systems integration and managed ...

Some of South Australia’s youngest and brightest apprentices are forging life-long careers in the state’s naval shipbuilding industry, having recently completed the first stage of their apprenticeship on the Hunter Class Frigate Program. Marking a significant step towards building Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding workforce, BAE Systems Australia’s first 16 school-based apprentices graduated from high school and will now enter the next phase of their apprenticeship program. The apprentices, who are from 10 South Australian high schools, will now work full-time at the Osborne Naval Shipyard for a further three years, before becoming fully qualified skilled tradespeople on the Hunter Class Frigate ...

Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has celebrated its South Australian operations reaching 250 local employees, just six years since the company first established in the state. BDA originally established in South Australia in 2015 to support the P-8A Poseidon fleet at RAAF Base Edinburgh. While the local workforce continues to play an important role in the sustainment and training support of the P-8A fleet, operations have expanded rapidly. In addition to 120 staff based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, today more than 140 staff in BDA’s Adelaide CBD operations support a range of national defence and aerospace projects including the world-leading E-7A ...

South Australian-based company DEWC Systems and the University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) are teaming up to explore the benefits of artificial intelligence and machine learning in detecting radio frequency signals to support Defence needs. The collaborative research project builds on the work already undertaken by DEWC Systems and AIML for Phase 1 of the Miniaturised Orbital Electronic Sensor System (MOESS) project – a space-based tactical EW sensor system that provides situational awareness. DEWC Systems’ chief technology officer Dr Paul Gardner-Stephen, who is spearheading the project, said the collaboration will create a framework for AI-enabled spectrum monitoring ...

Expressions of interest to participate on the South Australian ‘Defence State’ pavilion during Indo-Pacific 2022 are now open. The internationally renowned event presents a unique opportunity for commercial maritime and naval defence companies to showcase products, technologies and services to an influential audience. The largest exhibition of its kind in the region, the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition is set to be held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney from 10-12 May 2022. Expressions of interest will close on 14 December 2021. Complete the online form to register your interest today. Nominate for the Indo-Pacific Innovation Awards Entries for the ...

The Royal Aeronautical Society’s Adelaide Branch will be celebrating the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at their annual dinner. Held on Wednesday 8 December 2021 in the Adelaide Convention Centre’s Riverbank Rooms, the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Dinner will showcase South Australia’s aerospace industry and commemorate 100 years of the RAAF. With a keynote address provided by a representative from the Head of Air Force Capability, insight into the future development of the RAAF will be shared. This is set to be a fantastic evening for industry, so secure your tickets today to avoid missing ...

Tasmanian Defence supplier CBG Systems and Spanish group Ghenova touched down in the South Australian Defence and Space Landing Pad at Lot Fourteen earlier this year, strengthening the state’s defence industry capability and bringing a promise to invest in economic and employment growth. Operating out of Hobart for the past 45 years, advanced manufacturing company CBG Systems offers three capabilities: supplying and installing fire, thermal and acoustic marine insulation; specialist antenna systems; and mobile camouflage system solutions – thermal, infrared reduction camouflage for defence assets including army vehicles. The company has clients across Australia, Europe and the US, and now ...

The University of Adelaide has launched a new artificial intelligence research centre at Lot Fourteen, aiming to develop the expertise Australia needs to compete in the future machine learning-enabled global economy. Headquartered at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML), the Centre for Augmented Reasoning focuses on an emerging field of AI that combines machine learning pattern recognition with an ability to reason. The centre will lead the research and development of new augmented systems, aiming to improve technology in applications including: machines that continually learn while interacting with the environment machines that work with data analysts to optimise business ...