Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has launched the second instalment of the Australian Military Sales Catalogue, as part of a concerted effort to promote the products and services produced by Australia’s defence industry internationally.
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Minister Pyne said the first catalogue, which was released in 2017, had proved to be a success.
“The Australian Military Sales is an important initiative for us to showcase the vast range of products and services the Australian defence industry can export to our friends and allies to boost their capability,” Minister Pyne said.
“The catalogue lists selected Australian Defence Force equipment available with a demonstrated viable capability that other countries might seek to purchase,” he added, noting that the catalogue underpins the Department’s ‘Smart Buyer’ approach around the acquisition, sustainment and disposal of ADF capability by working more in tune with industry.
“This catalogue is another way for the government to help Australia’s defence industry reach the markets of our friends and allies,” Minister Pyne said.
“Today’s launch is another milestone that celebrates our successful Australian defence industry as a fundamental input to capability.”
The Australian Military Sales Office (AMSO) is a Directorate within Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group whose remit includes supporting Australian sovereign capability and military sales programs through developing several key sales avenues.
These include international government-to-government sale, gifting or other transfer of surplus and obsolete Defence articles; international government-to-government purchase of Australian origin, sensitive technology, Defence articles; and supporting Australian defence industry to export to foreign government customers.
The purpose of the Australian Military Sales Catalogue (AMSC), formally known as the Australian Military Sales Equipment Catalogue (AMSE), is to inform potential foreign government customers of Australian defence equipment and of Australian defence industry products and services available under international government-to-government arrangements.
Submissions for the 2018 AMSC were launched by the Minister Pyne on 26 October 2017.
This is the second year AMSO has produced the AMSC, and new to this edition is the inclusion of an Australian Defence industry section, featuring a range of Australian defence industry companies that have been selected to showcase their products and services.
“This year’s catalogue has been expanded to include products and services from 69 Australian defence companies – including small and medium enterprises, and companies located across the country including from regional Australia,” said Minister Pyne at the launch event.
“As Minister for Defence Industry, I am constantly reminded of the enormous ability, skill and determination of our Australian defence industry. The Turnbull government is supporting them in a number of ways including through the Defence Export Strategy I announced with the Prime Minister on 29 January 2018.”
The transfer of ex-ADF equipment to foreign governments is subject to a rigorous approval process independent from AMSO.