Australian Department of Defence, The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and Boeing Australia, a leading regional aerospace enterprise, today signed a 10-year Strategic Research and Development Alliance that will boost Australia's aerospace defences.
The agreement will see the two organisations strengthen ties in research and development in areas of strategic significance to Australia's defence, including those of military aircraft fleet management and network centric operations. Australia's Chief Defence Scientist, Dr Roger Lough, and Boeing Australia Managing Director, Mr David Gray, signed the agreement in Melbourne today.
The aim of the alliance will be to harness national assets in both industry and government in order to develop practical, affordable solutions to address the many complex challenges that will face Australia's aerospace industry and Australia in its defence preparedness over the next decade.
At the signing ceremony, Mr Gray and Dr Lough said the collaboration links the expertise and capabilities of Boeing Australia and DSTO to support new developments in aerospace battle management, coalition interoperability and aircraft fleet support.
“Boeing Australia offers the region's most advanced aerospace capability and has strong links with The Boeing Company's world-leading research and development unit, Phantom Works. Together with the DSTO expertise in aircraft materials, structures and flight systems, as well as airborne missions systems and information sciences, this alliance is well placed to meet Australia's needs for aerospace modernisation and network centric aerospace battle management into the 21st century,” Mr Gray added.
Dr Lough said the agreement draws and builds on existing interactions between DSTO and Boeing and will provide additional benefits in enhancing DSTO's ability to strengthen Australian skills and self reliance in maintaining the capability of its aerospace fleet, application of network centric capabilities and aircraft simulation. He said the agreement also builds on DSTO's existing links with industry and reflects the priority DSTO places on its relationships with industry.
“It is one of 16 alliances between DSTO and industry aimed at addressing the technology needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), building Australia's defence industry while creating national wealth,” Dr Lough said.
