On Feb 19/09, the Australian Government formally opened an A$ 85 million Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) in Bendigo, Victoria, aimed at researching futuristic materials for the Defence industry. The DMTC is the first center to be established under the Defence Future Capability Technology Centre Program, and the project was announced in December 2007. It’s funded under a partnership arrangement, with the Australian Government provided A$ 30 million. Collaborating partners contribute a further A$ 52-55 million.
The center currently has 16 projects underway, grouped into 4 broad categories. A pair of joint US-Australian programs also look set to benefit directly: the JLTV program for blast-resistant patrol vehicles, and their joint research program into hypersonic flight. The categories include:
* Aircraft platforms
* Maritime platforms
* Armour applications
* Propulsion systems.
Some items, like through-life support models, improved alloys, and “prognostic” monitoring systems that can predict failures before they occur, are common across more than one category.
Academic and government participants include:
* University of Queensland, including its metals researchers and its Centre for Hypersonics.
* University of Wollongong in New South Wales
* Swinburne University of Technology
* University of Melbourne
* RMIT University in Melbourne
* Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO)
* Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANTSO)
* Australia’s Cooperative Research Centres for Cast Metals Manufacturing (CAST CRC) and for Advanced Composite Structures.
The 6 industry core participants include:
* BAE Systems Australia Ltd
* BlueScope Steel Limited
* CRC-ACS Limited
* GKN Aerospace Engineering Services Pty Ltd
* Surface Technology Coatings
* Thales Australia Holdings Pty Ltd
* … and 16 supporting industry participants.
See: Australian DoD release | Speech by The Hon. Greg Combet | Thales Australia release.