Tasmania’s prowess in advanced manufacturing and defence was prominently showcased at the 2024 Land Forces International Defence Exposition in Melbourne, underlining the island state’s growing influence on the global stage. Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who has championed Tasmania’s presence at the expo since 2016, highlighted the significant strides made by local industries in boosting the state’s reputation.
Rockliff recalled a pivotal moment from 2018 when he facilitated a key introduction between the Hanwha Group and the Elphinstone Group at a previous Land Forces event in Adelaide. This connection has flourished, leading to Tasmania’s largest-ever defence supply contract: the Land 400 Phase 3 project. This project, valued at $170 million, involves delivering 129 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles to the Australian Army, creating 30 new jobs and retaining 28 positions in the North West region.
The Premier attributed this success to a $5 million government investment supporting Elphinstone’s bid with Hanwha for the Land 400 project. The investment, initially expected to generate $100 million for the Tasmanian economy, has proven to be a major boost, showcasing Tasmania’s capability in delivering high-quality, world-class defence products.
This year, the Land Forces expo saw ten Tasmanian manufacturers and the Australian Maritime College presenting their design and engineering expertise. The event, which attracted over 20,000 attendees, including senior government and military officials, defence contractors, and executives from around the world, provided a platform for Tasmanian companies to display their innovations.
Tasmanian exhibitors included CBG Systems, Currawong Engineering, Elphinstone, HENSOLDT Australia, Lightning Protection International, Jayben Group, Performatec, Pivot Maritime International, Sentinel Boats, and Storemasta. By uniting these companies under the Defence Tasmania banner, the government aimed to leverage the state’s reputation for collaboration, innovation, and quality, resulting in hundreds of valuable interactions with delegates.
Premier Rockliff expressed optimism about the future, noting that the expo had opened doors to potential new projects and contracts. Since 2019, Tasmania has secured over $350 million in defence contracts, a testament to the state’s growing prominence in the sector. The government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future continues to build on this success, fostering further opportunities for Tasmanian businesses.
Jayben Director Allan Johnson highlighted the impact of showcasing their launch and recovery systems at the expo. The systems, having recently passed Defence’s mobility trials, are now available for use by the Australian Army. The opportunity to display these innovations to major primes and international defence forces has generated interest in integrating Jayben’s systems into broader defence platforms.
CBG Systems’ CEO Javier Herbon expressed pride in contributing Australian-manufactured products to the Australian Army’s capabilities. CBG Systems, in collaboration with Hanwha Defence Australia, is supplying the SolarSigmaShield mobile camouflage system for the Army’s Protected Mobile Fires self-propelled howitzers under LAND 8116 Phase 1.
The expo not only showcased Tasmania’s manufacturing excellence but also reinforced the state’s commitment to advancing its defence sector. For further details on Tasmania’s support for defence supply industries, visit State Growth’s Defence Page.
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