The three-year research program will evaluate and develop materials and engineering solutions to minimise the effects of terrorist explosions aimed at civilian and military facilities.

The research will focus on studying the performance of ultra high performance concrete materials when subjected to blast loads. DSTO will conduct the blast testing and analyse the data. Other partners in the research program include the construction engineering company VSL Australia and the Buffalo-based State University of New York in the USA.

Mr Snowdon welcomed the growing collaboration between DSTO, industry and the university sector. “There is considerable scope for such collaboration and I look forward to Australian universities working closely with DSTO on innovative solutions to enhance defence capability.”