Geelong’s Advanced Fibre Cluster pursues how carbon fibre, fibre glass could be used on navy ships, missiles, uncrewed strike aircraft

British manufacturing giant BAE Systems wants insight into cutting-edge production techniques developed by Geelong businesses to use in equipment for the ADF. Here’s why they’re interested.

An Australian navy frigate where composite material could be used to combat corrosion.

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Having Geelong-produced parts used on Hunter-class navy frigates, missiles and next-generation uncrewed strike aircraft will be the aim of Geelong’s Advanced Fibre Cluster after it signed a two-year partnership with defence manufacturing giant BAE Systems.

The British multinational, which has a major operation in Australia, wants to leverage manufacturing expertise from about 20 cluster companies for its range which includes aircraft, submarines, electronics, surveillance equipment and simulators.

BAE’s Jeremy Satchell who is also a ADF veteran. Picture Emma Brasier

Most members of the cluster have expertise in manufacturing using fibreglass, carbon fibre or composite material.

Advanced composites are strong, lightweight and durable and are created when the fibres of two or more reinforced materials, such as fibreglass or carbon fibre, are fused together using epoxies or other bonding materials.

BAE Systems’ head of global access program, Jeremy Satchell, said expertise in Geelong could potentially be used to reduce weight and improve performance of missiles and combat corrosion on ships.

“The global access program works with Australian small business ... to support them to uplift their capability and introduces them to local and export opportunities,” Mr Satchell said.

“What we want to do is be in there, with the other cluster members, exploring the art of the possible.

“The use of advanced materials and composites is very close to what we have traditionally done.

“There’s a wide array in our existing suite of offerings that will demand that type of technology.

“What we wanted to do was be a part of the effort that the fibre cluster is undertaking, to be able to leverage that... in the end which is centred around sovereign capability for our customer the (Australian) Department of Defence.”

BAE Systems is delivering the multi-billion-dollar Australian defence contract to build navy frigates; it recently released an uncrewed aircraft prototype, named Strix, capable of air-to-ground strikes with a 160kg payload; and it manufactures parts for the F-35 stealth aircraft used by multiple air forces around the world.

The Strix armed VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) uncrewed air system unveiled at the Avalon airshow. Photo: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Advanced Fibre Cluster chief executive David Buchanan said BAE Systems had assessed the offering of member companies for about a year before it joined the cluster.

“We are expecting their joining will drive new innovation and we would expect we would see future possibility of production of composite parts here in Geelong for a wide range of the products BAE Systems produce.”

(L-R) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Advanced Fibre Cluster CEO David Buchanan and BAE Systems Australia CEO Ben Hudson.

“They are a significant player in the world defence market. There is a lot of opportunities for BAE Systems to leverage off our (composite and fibre) capabilities in Geelong.

“We have resources in knowledge and engineering which have driven BAE systems to this point.”

Originally published as Geelong’s Advanced Fibre Cluster pursues how carbon fibre, fibre glass could be used on navy ships, missiles, uncrewed strike aircraft