South Australian defence technology research gets $18m in federal funding

Hi-tech SA national security research has been awarded an out-size slice of funds to drive breakthrough military capability.

South Australia’s reputation for innovative defence technology research has been boosted by snaring an outsized portion of funds to develop breakthrough military capability.

Four SA groups received a total of $18m from a $60m federal government program to advance quantum and counter disinformation technology, such as developing tools to respond to deliberate spreading of false information.

Electromagnetic warfare specialist Consunet, sensing and precision timing firm QuantX Labs, UniSA and the University of Adelaide received funding under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) emerging and disruptive technologies program.

Defence Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Stephen Mullighan and federal Adelaide MP Steve Georganas on November 13 at a defence training announcement at the Regency Park TAFE campus. Picture: Ben Clark

Defence and Space Industries Minister Stephen Mullighan said the funding underscored SA’s role as a national leader in defence innovation and technology development.

“Our state has long been a leader in advanced defence technologies and this is becoming even more important for our nation’s defence,” he said.

QuantX Labs managing director and co-founder Andre Luiten said: “These funds will allow us to push our products even further ahead of the competition and secure sovereign leadership of critical fields that underpin national security.”

QuantX founder and managing director Andre Luiten (left) with SmartSat CRC chief executive Professor Andy Koronios. Picture: Supplied by SmartSat CRC

The ACSA was launched in mid-2023, backed by $748m funding over four years and $3.4bn over a decade, with the mission of “transforming Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem” by delivering advanced technologies.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has conceded the ACSA process had taken too long to whittle down applicants and award contracts but insisted this was ensuring value for money and “the best capabilities possible”.

Australian Army’s last Cambrai parade featuring the M1A1 Abrams tanks before they are gifted to Ukraine. Picture: Keryn Stevens