Twelve more Australian organizations have joined the Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation Program (RPDE), the nation’s effort to fix high risk and complex Defence capability problems, Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said recently.
The RPDE is a partnership among defense, industry and academic institutions across Australia.
New to the program are: Elbit Systems of Australia Pty Ltd; Pilatus Australia Pty Ltd; Artis Group Pty Ltd; Cocoon Data Holdings Limited; Edith Cowan University; Eggler Consulting Engineers; Etherstack Pty Ltd; Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd; Orbital8 Pty Ltd; RPC Technologies Pty Ltd; University of Western Australia; and ZBOB Engineering Pty Ltd.
“220 companies and academic institutions are now part of this program,” Clare said. “The work they’re doing is saving taxpayers’ money and making sure our soldiers, sailors and aircrew have got the capability they need to do their job.”
The RPDE program has begun its 100th activity for the Defence Ministry.
The program has contributed to more than a third of the projects in the Defence Capability Plan and the outcomes are exceptional, the minister’s statements said.
For example, the Anzac-class Frigates Electronic Interference Remediation project has improved communications and the safety of Naval personnel, identifying savings to taxpayers of $50,000 a day in fuel costs through better energy management at Forward Operating Bases, and fast-tracking sensor training for Air Combat Officers so they are ready for the arrival of the new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.