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DMTC study highlights opportunities in advanced materials

A new study into Australian carbon fibre capabilities will help drive sovereign manufacturing development for future defence projects.

The DMTC study, in conjunction with the Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong, concludes there are impressive carbon fibre and composite manufacturing capabilities across Australia’s industrial and research sectors.

Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong members were among more than 50 leading firms, academics and industry groups interviewed for the comprehensive report.

DMTC CEO Dr Mark Hodge, said the project aimed to provide a basis for DMTC to undertake future work in building Australia’s industrial capability and supply chain depth in this emerging sub-sector of the defence industry.

“There is growing demand on defence projects for advanced materials, to take advantage of particular performance characteristics,” Dr Hodge said.

“Composites can be attractive because they offer important performance characteristics including strength to weight ratio, ability to integrate functions, corrosion resistance and signature reduction.”

The study highlighted some impressive credentials enjoyed by Australian firms in regard to sophisticated carbon fibre composites, noting that Australians have designed and manufactured components for NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, James Cameron’s underwater vessel, as well as for commercial and defence prime contractors.

Shared with key defence and industry stakeholders earlier this month, the study also identifies several challenges for Australian industry, in particular issues related to the lack of scale of the small and medium sized enterprises involved.

“Much of the industry capability lies in relatively small SMEs that often find it difficult to engage with defence supply chains for reasons including a lack of information; lack of strategic orientation; lack of cash to support experimentation and innovation; and a small cadre of expert personnel who are spread too thinly,” the study said.

The report notes there is a distinction between aerospace and projects in other domains, for example land and maritime because materials specifications for aircraft take a considerable time for suppliers to meet the various quality requirements for vendors.

The Carbon Fibre study also identified carbon composite opportunities in land combat and protected vehicles as well as in the large naval acquisition programs such as the $35 billion Hunter Class Frigate Program.

The report was developed by John Dean of Bremer & Co, in conjunction with the Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong, and DMTC’s Industry Capability Development Program Leader, Charlotte Morris.

Dr Hodge said the study suggested several key activities which are now under consideration by DMTC.
Responses to the challenges and opportunities identified in the study may include an industry capability development program aligned with the requirements of one or more of the major Defence acquisition programs, for example in the land, sea and air platforms, including unmanned aerial systems and maintenance and repair operations.

Further consultations will be undertaken to finalise the specifics of the activity.

UPDATE: An EOI form is now available for companies and research institutions to express interest in future capability building activities. The form is available here.