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The defence prime has opened a new facility in Victoria, which will house collaborative research and development projects to support its local pipeline of activity.
BAE Systems Australia has launched Red Ochre Labs, a Victoria-based facility that will be used for the development of sovereign disruptive technologies for the Australian Defence Force
According to the prime, Red Ochre Labs will foster collaboration between industry, Defence and academia, linking research and development (R&D) projects across BAE Systems’ Australian sites.
Specifically, Red Ochre Labs has been designed to facilitate the development of air, land, sea and cyber technologies — focused on autonomous systems, hypersonics, high-frequency systems, electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the Hunter Class frigate program.
“The Australian government is clear in its expectations of the need for new, future focused technologies to support the Australian Defence Force,” BAE Systems chief technology officer Brad Yelland said.
“Focusing our R&D investment and using Red Ochre Labs as a collaborative hub will enable us to both fast track the development of successful technologies and ‘fail fast’ with those that don’t.
“Our experience has shown success breeds success and that one great piece of technology can be evolved to have other uses or can form the basis of a completely new technology.”
Yelland added that the development of new, Australian-made technologies could also bolster export sales, which he said could fund further research and product development.
“Now more than ever, the investment in and development of Australian made technologies has the potential to underpin much needed economic growth and meet the technological needs of our defence force,” he concluded.
According to BAE Systems, the selection of the name ‘Red Ochre’ Labs, reflects the company’s reconciliation commitment to Australia’s First Nation people, with red ochre considered an “iconic mainstay” of the Australian landscape.
[Related; BAE Systems Australia appoints new maritime sustainment director]
