The recent Land Forces Defence Expo in Melbourne has underscored the growing opportunities for Australian small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the defence industry. As global security challenges intensify, and with defence spending set to rise, the event spotlighted opportunities for local companies to contribute to large-scale projects, particularly those related to sovereign capability.
Among the highlights, Lockheed Martin Australia has awarded GMC industry sponsor, Marand a contract to conduct an assessment to identify and establish a material supplier listing. Lockheed Martin’s intent is to propose a list of preferred Defence industry forum participants for Commonwealth consideration.
GMC major sponsors, Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) and Deakin University signed an updated MoU, building on a previous MoU signed in 2021 and expanding identified areas of shared interests and expertise with a focus on people and R&D. HDA signed a number of agreements during the event, developing partnerships aimed at building domestic capability.
The Department of Defence used the event to reinforce the Australian Government’s focus on building local industrial capability via the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
GMC, Deakin University & Committee of Geelong partnered to attend the event under the Geelong Defence Alliance (GDA) banner, promoting capabilities and opportunities in our region. GMC members Viva Energy, The Gordon and CMTP also joined the GDA stand.
The event highlighted that defence industry growth presents a number of opportunities for local SMEs, with collaborative projects between large primes, research institutions, and manufacturers key to positioning Australia as a leader in advanced defence manufacturing.