Putin’s power hunger could give Bendigo a billion-dollar boost

POLAND’S fears of Putin could lead to a billion-dollar boost for Victoria’s defence manufacturing sector.

The state-of-the-art Hawkei has proved a huge boost for Victoria. Picture: David Crosling

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin’s aggression in eastern Europe could provide a billion-dollar boost for the Victorian economy.

Poland — which plans to spend $50 billion beefing up its military to counter growing assertiveness from its Russian neighbour — is discussing buying up to 700 Bendigo-made Hawkei combat vehicles.

The state-of-the-art Hawkei, made by defence giant Thales Australia, has proved a huge boost for Victorian advanced manufacturing amid the decline and death of car production in the state.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne is in Warsaw tomorrow to support Thales’ bid to win the contract to supply the vehicles. Thales employs more than 200 Victorians.

Mr Pyne will also discuss the sale of Australia’s Adelaide class frigates — which will all be decommissioned by 2019 — to the Polish navy.

The Australian Army has already taken delivery of 22 Hawkei test vehicles and another 1000 are being built in Bendigo under the low-rate initial production phase of the $1.3 billion contract.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne is in Poland. Picture: AAP

Thales won the tender in late 2016 to build 1100 Hawkeis, ­securing 170 skilled jobs in Bendigo and a further 60 for the state. The Bushmaster, also made by Thales in Bendigo, is in service in seven countries.

Mr Pyne said Poland was working to significantly modernise its defence capability and wants to initially acquire 50 vehicles, with a follow-on acquisition program to increase to about 700.

“Like Australia, Poland’s defence forces are undertaking an unprecedented renewal of their capabilities,” Mr Pyne said. “The vehicle is a fantastic example of the innovation and capability of Australia’s defence industry.”

Fears grow of a military resurgence in Russia under Mr Putin. Picture: AFP

Mr Pyne said if Thales was successful, it would provide additional work and job security for the Hawkei workforce and the supply chain across the state.

Poland has pledged to increase the size of its army and introduce a 50,000-strong volunteer militia as fears grow of a military resurgence in Russia under Mr Putin.

National Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said this month the Polish army would have the capability of “stopping every opponent” within a decade.

Mr Pyne will also discuss export opportunity and the wider Australian-Polish relationship with Mr Macierewicz and Defence Secretary Bartosz Kownacki.