5 days ago
Hunter could be service hub for nation's new multi-billion-dollar frigate fleet
Newcastle is being considered as the maintenance destination for the nation's new multi-billion-dollar fleet of frigates.
Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build 11 new warships for the Australian navy and the company is searching for an east coast facility to maintain the fleet once up and running.
Hunter Defence Industry Task Force chair Tim Owen said a delegation of Mitsubishi and Japanese government officials would visit later this month to inspect the region's facilities and attend the Hunter Defence Conference.
"They're looking very, very closely at the Hunter," Mr Owen said.
"They're very excited about the maritime capabilities we have in the region - companies like Civmec, UGL, Thales and Varley."
The $10-billion contract for the fleet of Mogami-class frigates is expected to support 10,000 jobs domestically, most of which will be based in Western Australia.
However, Defence Industries Minister and Shortland MP Pat Conroy was excited at the region's chance to cash in on the economic boost.
"It's not just for upgrading and repairing our frigates ... there will be 35 Mogami-class frigates, 11 already exist, another 13 for the Japanese and another 11 for us," Mr Conroy said.
"There will be opportunities for Australian companies to produce parts, not just for our ships, but for Japanese ships.
"One day we might see a Japanese Mogami-class frigate from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force docking in Australia to be repaired and upgraded."
The fleet of Mogami-class frigates will replace the ageing Anzac-class ships, which are regarded as the workhorse vessels of the Australian navy.
Mr Owen said a Hunter maintenance facility for the frigate fleet would work hand-in-hand with the $850-million Kongsberg missile factory under construction at Williamstown.
"That would mean the missiles would be very likely to come out of Australia rather than Norway, whether that's for organic Australian navy capability or from an export perspective into Japan," he said.
Mr Conroy also announced $2.95 million for a Newcastle-based company, which will be used to create battery-powered remote-controlled trailers for the defence and mining industries.
3ME Technology chief executive Justin Bain said the self-propelled trailer could be used to carry extremely heavy loads and in the future would be autonomous.
"There are huge applications, every day we're thinking of more and more," Mr Bain said.
The trailers also contain a one-megawatt battery, "effectively providing a mobile power plant".
Mr Conroy said Defence was interested in the technology due to the changing nature of warfare.
"One of the lessons from the Ukraine conflict is you don't want humans exposed on the battlefield with the prevalence of drones," Mr Conroy said.
"The more we can keep humans away from the front line the better. These trailers mean we can transport defence capabilities in 20-foot containers without having a human anywhere near the zone."
The grant will fund the construction of four trailers - two for mining and two for defence - which is hoped will be the bedrock of a future industry.
Newcastle is being considered as the maintenance destination for the nation's new multi-billion-dollar fleet of frigates.
Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build 11 new warships for the Australian navy and the company is searching for an east coast facility to maintain the fleet once up and running.
Hunter Defence Industry Task Force chair Tim Owen said a delegation of Mitsubishi and Japanese government officials would visit later this month to inspect the region's facilities and attend the Hunter Defence Conference.
"They're looking very, very closely at the Hunter," Mr Owen said.
"They're very excited about the maritime capabilities we have in the region - companies like Civmec, UGL, Thales and Varley."
The $10-billion contract for the fleet of Mogami-class frigates is expected to support 10,000 jobs domestically, most of which will be based in Western Australia.
However, Defence Industries Minister and Shortland MP Pat Conroy was excited at the region's chance to cash in on the economic boost.
"It's not just for upgrading and repairing our frigates ... there will be 35 Mogami-class frigates, 11 already exist, another 13 for the Japanese and another 11 for us," Mr Conroy said.
"There will be opportunities for Australian companies to produce parts, not just for our ships, but for Japanese ships.
"One day we might see a Japanese Mogami-class frigate from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force docking in Australia to be repaired and upgraded."
The fleet of Mogami-class frigates will replace the ageing Anzac-class ships, which are regarded as the workhorse vessels of the Australian navy.
Mr Owen said a Hunter maintenance facility for the frigate fleet would work hand-in-hand with the $850-million Kongsberg missile factory under construction at Williamstown.
"That would mean the missiles would be very likely to come out of Australia rather than Norway, whether that's for organic Australian navy capability or from an export perspective into Japan," he said.
Mr Conroy also announced $2.95 million for a Newcastle-based company, which will be used to create battery-powered remote-controlled trailers for the defence and mining industries.
3ME Technology chief executive Justin Bain said the self-propelled trailer could be used to carry extremely heavy loads and in the future would be autonomous.
"There are huge applications, every day we're thinking of more and more," Mr Bain said.
The trailers also contain a one-megawatt battery, "effectively providing a mobile power plant".
Mr Conroy said Defence was interested in the technology due to the changing nature of warfare.
"One of the lessons from the Ukraine conflict is you don't want humans exposed on the battlefield with the prevalence of drones," Mr Conroy said.
"The more we can keep humans away from the front line the better. These trailers mean we can transport defence capabilities in 20-foot containers without having a human anywhere near the zone."
The grant will fund the construction of four trailers - two for mining and two for defence - which is hoped will be the bedrock of a future industry.
Newcastle is being considered as the maintenance destination for the nation's new multi-billion-dollar fleet of frigates.
Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build 11 new warships for the Australian navy and the company is searching for an east coast facility to maintain the fleet once up and running.
Hunter Defence Industry Task Force chair Tim Owen said a delegation of Mitsubishi and Japanese government officials would visit later this month to inspect the region's facilities and attend the Hunter Defence Conference.
"They're looking very, very closely at the Hunter," Mr Owen said.
"They're very excited about the maritime capabilities we have in the region - companies like Civmec, UGL, Thales and Varley."
The $10-billion contract for the fleet of Mogami-class frigates is expected to support 10,000 jobs domestically, most of which will be based in Western Australia.
However, Defence Industries Minister and Shortland MP Pat Conroy was excited at the region's chance to cash in on the economic boost.
"It's not just for upgrading and repairing our frigates ... there will be 35 Mogami-class frigates, 11 already exist, another 13 for the Japanese and another 11 for us," Mr Conroy said.
"There will be opportunities for Australian companies to produce parts, not just for our ships, but for Japanese ships.
"One day we might see a Japanese Mogami-class frigate from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force docking in Australia to be repaired and upgraded."
The fleet of Mogami-class frigates will replace the ageing Anzac-class ships, which are regarded as the workhorse vessels of the Australian navy.
Mr Owen said a Hunter maintenance facility for the frigate fleet would work hand-in-hand with the $850-million Kongsberg missile factory under construction at Williamstown.
"That would mean the missiles would be very likely to come out of Australia rather than Norway, whether that's for organic Australian navy capability or from an export perspective into Japan," he said.
Mr Conroy also announced $2.95 million for a Newcastle-based company, which will be used to create battery-powered remote-controlled trailers for the defence and mining industries.
3ME Technology chief executive Justin Bain said the self-propelled trailer could be used to carry extremely heavy loads and in the future would be autonomous.
"There are huge applications, every day we're thinking of more and more," Mr Bain said.
The trailers also contain a one-megawatt battery, "effectively providing a mobile power plant".
Mr Conroy said Defence was interested in the technology due to the changing nature of warfare.
"One of the lessons from the Ukraine conflict is you don't want humans exposed on the battlefield with the prevalence of drones," Mr Conroy said.
"The more we can keep humans away from the front line the better. These trailers mean we can transport defence capabilities in 20-foot containers without having a human anywhere near the zone."
The grant will fund the construction of four trailers - two for mining and two for defence - which is hoped will be the bedrock of a future industry.
Newcastle is being considered as the maintenance destination for the nation's new multi-billion-dollar fleet of frigates.
Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build 11 new warships for the Australian navy and the company is searching for an east coast facility to maintain the fleet once up and running.
Hunter Defence Industry Task Force chair Tim Owen said a delegation of Mitsubishi and Japanese government officials would visit later this month to inspect the region's facilities and attend the Hunter Defence Conference.
"They're looking very, very closely at the Hunter," Mr Owen said.
"They're very excited about the maritime capabilities we have in the region - companies like Civmec, UGL, Thales and Varley."
The $10-billion contract for the fleet of Mogami-class frigates is expected to support 10,000 jobs domestically, most of which will be based in Western Australia.
However, Defence Industries Minister and Shortland MP Pat Conroy was excited at the region's chance to cash in on the economic boost.
"It's not just for upgrading and repairing our frigates ... there will be 35 Mogami-class frigates, 11 already exist, another 13 for the Japanese and another 11 for us," Mr Conroy said.
"There will be opportunities for Australian companies to produce parts, not just for our ships, but for Japanese ships.
"One day we might see a Japanese Mogami-class frigate from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force docking in Australia to be repaired and upgraded."
The fleet of Mogami-class frigates will replace the ageing Anzac-class ships, which are regarded as the workhorse vessels of the Australian navy.
Mr Owen said a Hunter maintenance facility for the frigate fleet would work hand-in-hand with the $850-million Kongsberg missile factory under construction at Williamstown.
"That would mean the missiles would be very likely to come out of Australia rather than Norway, whether that's for organic Australian navy capability or from an export perspective into Japan," he said.
Mr Conroy also announced $2.95 million for a Newcastle-based company, which will be used to create battery-powered remote-controlled trailers for the defence and mining industries.
3ME Technology chief executive Justin Bain said the self-propelled trailer could be used to carry extremely heavy loads and in the future would be autonomous.
"There are huge applications, every day we're thinking of more and more," Mr Bain said.
The trailers also contain a one-megawatt battery, "effectively providing a mobile power plant".
Mr Conroy said Defence was interested in the technology due to the changing nature of warfare.
"One of the lessons from the Ukraine conflict is you don't want humans exposed on the battlefield with the prevalence of drones," Mr Conroy said.
"The more we can keep humans away from the front line the better. These trailers mean we can transport defence capabilities in 20-foot containers without having a human anywhere near the zone."
The grant will fund the construction of four trailers - two for mining and two for defence - which is hoped will be the bedrock of a future industry.
