Billion Dollar Defense Contract Up For Grabs In Australia
Victoria has further cemented itself as a national leader in advanced defence manufacturing after Bendigo-based Thales Australia was short-listed as one of three Australian companies vying for a $1 billion defence vehicle contract.
Industry and Trade Minister Jacinta Allan welcomed the announcement by Commonwealth Defense Minister Greg Combet that Thales Australia would be shortlisted as one of three Australian companies to bid for a $1 billion contract building light armored vehicles for the Australian Defence Force.
She said it followed a meeting she had with him in April during which she promoted Victoria’s excellence in defence manufacturing.
“The Brumby Labor Government is supporting companies such as Thales Australia to secure vital defence contracts after the Rudd Government recently released its defence white paper detailing plans to modernise 80 per cent of defence equipment in the next 20 years,” she said.
“Thales Australia has been waiting for this opportunity to promote its Hawkei vehicle which is in prototype phase.
“It follows their success with the Bushmaster vehicles that the Australian Defence Force already uses in overseas operations.
“It also demonstrates the strengths of industry in regional Victoria when you consider that now potentially two of the Australian Defence Force’s most high-tech vehicles will have been made here in Bendigo.”
Ms Allan said Victoria’s strength in advanced manufacturing – backed by strong support from the Brumby Labor Government – meant its defence sector was going from strength to strength.
“Our Government established a defence industry unit to specifically help companies like Thales Australia secure major contracts, leading to job creation and a stronger economy,” she said.
“The defence white paper’s plan translates to an extra $130 billion investment in Defence equipment expenditure, and I indicated to Mr Combet that Victoria is well placed to earn its share of jobs and defence dollars.”
Ms Allan said the Bushmaster vehicle had been a great example of Victoria’s $2 billion defence industry which employs over 9000 Victorians and generated exports valued at $236 million in 2008-09.
“Victoria’s defence industry is also working on the largest warships ever built for the RAN, the 30,000 ton-plus Canberra Class Large Amphibious Ships, and 36 of the complex modules required for the construction of the Navy’s three Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD),” she said.
“Victorian companies have also secured 50 per cent of the contracts won in Australia for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project, and our aerospace component manufacturers have 60 per cent of the work won for JSF metal components.”
Topics: 2010, Air Warfare Destroyers, Australia, Australian Defence Force, AWD, Bendigo, Brumby Labor Government, business, Canberra Class Large Amphibious Ships, construction, defence budget, defence equipment, defence manufacturing, defence sector, defence vehicle contract, economic development, economic growth, Economy, employment, Governance, government, Greg Combet, Hawkei vehicle, Jacinta Allan, jobs, Joint Strike Fighter, JSF, light armored vehicles, metal components, moniter, monitor, Navy, news, RAN, Thales Australia, trade, Victoria
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