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The defence prime has teamed up with academia for an R&D project aimed at developing a new lightweight composite solution for gun barrels.
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Thales Australia, Deakin University, and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) have entered into a collaboration agreement — a study into the local development of a lightweight composite overwrap for gun barrels.
Specifically, the organisations will explore opportunities to manufacture carbon fibre overwraps designed to reduce the thickness of gun barrels, helping to produce a lighter product with greater precision.
The $234,023 research and development (R&D) project is expected to run over six months.
Graham Evenden, Thales Australia’s director, integrated weapons and sensors, said the project would help bolster Thales’ in-country composite manufacturing capabilities.
“Currently, the intermediate modulus carbon fibres suited to the overwrap are only available from overseas supply chains that face frequent disruptions,” Evenden said.
“By developing these fibres on Australian soil, Thales is establishing an innovative capability that can be applied to other small arms products across civil and defence sectors.”
Thales has also revealed it would work with Deakin to train and upskill staff at its Lithgow Arms facility, to ensure they are equipped to work with composites.
Professor Russell Varley, professor of composite materials at Deakin University, said the IMCRC activate collaboration would leverage local knowhow to meet the growing global demand for lightweight, high-performance components.
“Deakin, through its Carbon Nexus research centre, is excited to support Thales in the development of new carbon fibre materials which, once approved, will be used to produce a composite demonstrator at Thales Australia’s Lithgow manufacturing facility,” he added.
Dr Matthew Young, manufacturing innovation manager at IMCRC, said the project would serve as a testbed for future developments of Australian manufactured bespoke carbon fibres.
“This collaboration will develop a niche, high-quality product with significant export opportunities. By partnering with an Australian world-class research facility on composite materials, this project will directly support growth within a key national manufacturing priority area,” he said.
“It’s a prime example of the role shorter-term R&D collaborations can play in strengthening the future of defence manufacturing within Australia.”
The launch of the R&D project comes just weeks after Thales Australia commenced construction of its new $6.5 million Lithgow Arms facility, tipped to deliver an advanced manufacturing 4.0 and integration hub to facilitate the development of future locally designed weapons systems.
This first phase of the industrial plan aims to establish a modern manufacturing and integration hub for the design, development and precision manufacture of next-generation weapons systems for the Australian Defence Force, industrial partners and export customers.
This builds on $70 million in investment by Thales Australia, which has included new equipment and product development over the past decade,
[Related: Thales Australia to commence Lithgow Arms facility upgrade in February]
