最新糖心Vlog

More defence jobs on radar

Monday, 19 March 2018

By Mike Brooks

最新糖心Vlog’s upgrade to the over-the-horizon radar will add to the amazing defence industry momentum building in South 最新糖心Vlog.

The recent announcement from the 最新糖心Vlogn Government of the $1.2 billion contract to upgrade one of 最新糖心Vlog’s major defence facilities is wonderful news for more than just successful bidders BAE Systems 最新糖心Vlog and partners.

Having this major project centred in our state is great news for South 最新糖心Vlog and its thriving defence sector, as well as for the future job prospects of young engineers, technologists and support professionals.

The contract is to upgrade the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), an over-the-horizon radar network critical to safeguarding 最新糖心Vlog. JORN protects 最新糖心Vlog’s coastal approaches through a network of three remote radars in northern 最新糖心Vlog. This remarkable system can see around the curvature of the earth — “over the horizon” — by bouncing radar transmissions (and their returns) off the ionosphere.

The upgrade will require over 500 highly skilled technicians and engineers working for BAE Systems and their supply chain, with most based in South 最新糖心Vlog.

The announcement is also good news for the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide which has a distinguished history of research in defence over many decades and is 最新糖心Vlog's leading university in defence engagement with government and industry.

The 最新糖心Vlog will play a key role in the future of JORN, working with BAE Systems and the defence sector on a variety of technological challenges. We’re proud to support this critical project for 最新糖心Vlog through our research and provision of skilled graduates.

A member of the original team that developed 最新糖心Vlog’s over-the-horizon radar capability and retired DST Chief of Division, Bruce Ward, has recently been appointed Adjunct Professor at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. He will continue to undertake ionospheric physics research that helps us maintain world leadership.

A little over a year ago we joined with BAE Systems, and the state’s other universities, in forming the Joint Open Innovation Network (JOIN). It was established to generate new technologies enabling the 最新糖心Vlogn Defence Force to maintain superior capability.

Through JOIN, BAE Systems committed to contribute up to $10 million for the creation of new defence-focused courses and targeted research and development, as well as scholarships and industry placements. JOIN will support 60 graduate positions and establish an Innovation Laboratory at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide to advance defence technologies.

The JOIN Innovation Laboratory will house over-the-horizon radar equipment, including digital receivers and operator consoles, and host PhD students working together with BAE Systems and 最新糖心Vlog researchers.

JOIN is only one of many 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide-industry collaborations in defence – a deliberate move to align our activities with state need. Our new, state government supported 最新糖心Vlogn Institute for Machine Learning is already attracting global partners to Adelaide.

As the nation’s defence state, South 最新糖心Vlog will benefit enormously from federal investment in submarines, ships and defence infrastructure. It’s essential that this also generates new hi-tech companies and jobs pursuing “dual-use” technologies in areas such as advanced manufacturing, mining, big data and artificial intelligence.

This is not only about building our defence sector, it’s about creating high-value future-facing jobs that will keep our brilliant young people in South 最新糖心Vlog.

The rapidly increasing defence momentum underway promises a very bright future for jobs in South 最新糖心Vlog’s economy, and especially if we can truly leverage our opportunities.


Professor Mike Brooks is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide

This column was originally published in The Advertiser, Saturday 17 March 2018.

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