Australia’s defence industry is innovative and technologically advanced, and is the cornerstone of Australia’s national security and plays an essential role in the support of the Australian Defence Force.
Australian defence industry is characterised by an efficient manufacturing sector, based on a well educated research and development sector and supported by a highly skilled workforce. While a number of Australia’s platforms have been sourced from outside of Australia, Australia’s defence companies have displayed the capability and capacity to modify and adapt these platforms to meet Australia’s specific operational requirements. Effectively this means the Australian defence industry sector needs to understand individual platforms and the integration of the on-board systems. To deliver an industrial capability that is reliable and cost effective, Australian industry has evolved to be a sophisticated defence supplier that in many cases, has enhanced the capabilities of foreign platforms and systems.
The Royal Australian Navy’s surface and sub-surface platforms are mostly the product of Australia’s domestic shipbuilding industry. Australia’s maritime assets include the Collins class submarine fleet, the Armidale class patrol boats and the Anzac class frigates. In future years, the Australian surface fleet will be augmented by the Air Warfare Destroyer fleet. As an island nation, Australia’s maritime capability is fundamental to the nation’s security, and Australia’s maritime assets are an integral component of this function. Australian defence industry has been, and remains, pivotal in the efficient production and the smart sustainment of these important assets.
The performance and reliability of the equipment operated by the Australian Defence Force, particularly during sustained periods of high operational tempo, clearly shows Australian defence companies are capable of delivering a product that fully meets the customer’s expectations and requirements. By choosing Australian defence industry as either a part of your supply chain program or to provide direct through-life-support to your in-service equipment and platforms, you can be confident that your Australian supplier will prove to be as dependable and efficient as it is to the Australian Defence Force.
The relationship between the Australian Defence Force and Australia’s defence industry is one of partnership. This is the same relationship you will receive when you select Australian defence companies to supply or sustain your defence force. You can be certain you have chosen a partner who will deliver a technologically advanced, fully supported product built to the exacting standards demanded by the Australian Defence Force. Choosing an Australian defence company will mean choosing innovation, reliability, value for money and a supplier that understands the requirements expected by its defence force customer.
The companies listed in this 2010 edition of Defence Industry Australia are a selection of Australia’s defence industrial capacity. Australia’s defence industry is diversified, reliable and will satisfy both your capability and performance requirements across the complete defence domain.
Greg Combet
Minister for Defence
