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Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has announced more than $3.2 million in grants have been awarded to six Australian small and medium businesses that are supporting the manufacturing of defence capabilities.

The Defence Global Competitiveness and Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant programs provide 50 per cent matching grants to assist Australian small and medium enterprises build capabilities for defence industry and overcome barriers to export.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy congratulated the latest recipients, saying, “By investing in these six businesses, we are investing and securing more jobs and opportunities for our Defence industry.”

The six recipients awarded include:

• Lightforce (SA), receiving $1 million to commission new capabilities for manufacturing through-life support for precision riflescopes, night vision, and other optic or electro-optic products.
• Integra Systems (VIC), receiving $1 million to install panel bending and fibre optic laser cutters for a range of capability programs.
• XTEK Limited (ACT), receiving $747,707 to acquire and commission a custom press and a new virtual machining centre, enhancing lightweight helmets and body armour, and improving helmet production capacity and export market opportunities.
• Direct Edge Manufacturing (TAS), receiving $342,470 to purchase specialised cutting equipment which will support the upgrade of land combat and protected mobility vehicle components.
• Stahl Metall (VIC), receiving $74,900 to install wire braiding and testing units to increase in-house manufacturing capability relevant to the international defence aerospace sector.
• Fire System Services (SA), receiving $62,212 to install new equipment, enhancing its testing and certified maintenance of pressure vessels for a range of capability.

“These grants provide Australians the opportunity to deliver cutting-edge manufacturing and maintenance capabilities for our Australian Defence Force, and contribute to our national defence requirements.

The Commonwealth government’s Defence Global Competitiveness and Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant programs provide a grant of $15,000 to $150,000 for up to 50 per cent of the cost of investing in projects that build export capability to build a stronger, more sustainable and globally competitive Australian defence industry. The maximum project period is 12 months.

“The Defence Global Competitiveness and Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant programs are enhancing the ability of Australian businesses to manufacture products that will serve Defence needs both here and abroad,” Minister Conroy added.

Relevant project activities can include:

• buying, leasing, constructing, installing or commissioning of capital equipment including specialist software to enhance cyber security;
• design, engineering and commissioning activities; and
• workforce training and accreditations.

The Defence export strategy defines Australian defence exports as “any defence-specific or dual-use goods or services exported by Australian defence industry, including as part of a supply chain, that are intended for a defence or national security end-user”.

More information about the Defence Global Competitiveness Grants program is available here.

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