Eight Tasmanian defence supply companies will be looking to increase last year’s record sales when they present Tasmania’s latest capabilities at the Land Forces 2022 expo this week.
I am pleased to be joining our team to promote Tasmanian quality and innovation at one of the Asia-Pacific’s largest international industry showcases of land-based military equipment, technology and services.
The Tasmanian delegation will be exhibiting under the Defence Tasmania banner at the event in Brisbane from 4 to 6 October, headed by Tasmanian Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Steve Gilmore AM, CSC.
Last year alone our defence supply companies secured contracts valued at almost $75 million.
With billions of dollars currently on the table as part of Australia’s land defence investment plan, there are significant opportunities for Tasmania to play a critical role in our national defence future and secure more jobs and grow investment in Tasmanian businesses.
Land Forces provides companies the opportunity to show off Tasmanian expertise and products to some of the biggest military services and defence industry contractors in the world.
It helps our local companies make invaluable contacts with key decision-makers and potential capability operators from across the defence sector and sets them on the path to securing significant defence supply contracts.
This year’s Land Forces delegation include companies such as CBG Systems, Elphinstone Pty Ltd and Delta Hydraulics, which have all been selected to provide long-term support for Hanwha Defence Australia’s LAND 8116 Protected Mobile Fires project.
With a value of up to $1.3 billion, the project will acquire 30 self-propelled armoured artillery systems and 15 armoured resupply vehicles to the Australian Army.
In addition, last year Elphinstone signed a teaming agreement with the South Korean company. As part of the teaming agreement, Elphinstone will bring more than 45 years of experience in advanced equipment manufacturing for the global mining industry to the partnership.
The family-owned business based in Burnie will focus on hull structure fabrication and machining for the Redback vehicles, should Hanwha be successful in the massive multi-billion dollar program.
Jayben Group in Cooee and Currawong Engineering in Kingston have each recently achieved contracts to prime company Insitu Pacific as lead supplier for the Army’s tactical unmanned aerial systems project.
Other local companies such as Delta Hydraulics in Devonport are also benefiting from these programs and Penguin Composites have been producing defence components for the Army for some years now.
We know Tasmanian companies are producing some of the best and most innovative advanced products in the world, with the value of international contracts for the supply of components and equipment to the defence sector growing each year.
More Media Releases from Madeleine Ogilvie
More Media Releases from the Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries