Melbourne-based company Aquaterro has won a $35 million contract to refurbish and upgrade the ADF's combat helmets.
The five-year deal with Aquaterro, the prime contractor for Land 125 Phase 3B Tiered Combat Helmet Program, is expected to create 10 highly skilled, technical jobs at the company in Melbourne’s south-east.
It is the first time the tiered combat helmet built by US company Team Wendy has been refurbished outside the US.
The helmet provides the men and women of the ADF with protection against ballistic, fragmentation and blunt force trauma, incorporating a ballistic protection shell, suspension and retention systems, and accessory mounts and rails.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price congratulated Aquaterro for winning the $7 million a year contract, which has seen it establish Australia’s first combat helmet refurbishment and upgrade program.
“This program will extend the life of the Australian Defence Force’s existing fleet of tiered combat helmets by five years, and most importantly, will ensure our soldiers are protected on operations,” Minister Price said.
“Companies like Aquaterro are building robust domestic supply chains that we can rely on.
“Aquaterro’s work in establishing this program will help ensure the ADF has the best available capability to defend Australia and its national interests.”
With the majority of required spare parts manufactured in Australia, work on the helmets started in July at Aquaterro’s recently expanded purpose-built facility in Pakenham.
As of July, Aquaterro unveiled the completion of “Building 2” on its Aquaterro Defence Precinct in Pakenham. This dedicated Integrated Soldier Systems Centre on over 3000 square metres of industrial land is adjacent to the company’s headquarters property, which will accommodate the Armour Technical Inspection and Refurbishment Workshop.
Aquaterro says that its facility will continue to enable the ongoing development and production of operationally relevant Integrated Soldier Systems and Small Arms programs capability for Australia’s defence industry.