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The Department of Defence has announced the launch of a New Air Combat Capability Industry Support Program (ISP), providing $8.2 million worth of government grants to Australian industry and research organisations involved in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
The ISP, which is headed by the DMO’s program manager New Air Combat Capability, AVM Kym Osley, will offer funding grants out to 2014 for:
- development of a JSF technology capability that has multiple applications (up to $1 million);
- development of a JSF industry capability that enhances a company’s competitiveness in winning work in the JSF program, or to engage in a study that relates to a required JSF capability requirement (up to $250,000); and,
- research projects that lead to JSF industry capability enhancements or manufacturing improvements (up to $300,000).
The announcement of the ISP is in keeping with a Defence Industry Policy Statement released in mid 2010 that recommended such a grant program be established in conjunction with government approval to buy the JSF. According to Defence, almost 30 Australian companies have so far won over US$250 million worth of work on the JSF program.
