The Australian Government has announced the signing of a new three year agreement with Lockheed Martin that will help grow the international competitiveness of small to medium sized companies and their ability to access export markets.
Image credit: www.minister.defence.gov.au
In announcing the agreement, Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne noted that Defence has seven defence primes with global supply chain agreements which have helped Australian Industry to secure a number of contracts worth approximately $830 million.
“This program provides Australian businesses with export opportunities that are both defence and commercial in nature. Lockheed Martin is exploring Australia’s research and development community for advanced niche technologies and low technology readiness level solutions that could be injected into major future Lockheed Martin programs,” he said.
“This provides opportunity and certainty for our defence companies and research organisations, and with the recent announcement of the Defence Innovation Hub, commercialisation pathways for Australia’s world leading innovations are being realised. Under the Global Supply Chain Program, primes also provide advocacy, mentoring and training.”
Mr Pyne said the global supply chain agreement is supported by Defence through Project AIR 5428 Pilot Training System. He said the primes currently participating in the program include Boeing, Raytheon, Rheinmetall, Thales, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman.
