Pictured left to right are: Mr Will Erith (R-R), Dr Bruce Brown (NACC), AVM John Harvey (PMNACC), Dr Christopher (Sam) Beale (R-R), Ian Ashbrook (R-R) and James Willmott (R-R).

The third Australian Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Advanced Technology and Innovation Conference was recently held in Melbourne, being officially opened by the Hon Bruce Billson MP.

Some 250 delegates, including representatives from the US Government, Lockheed Martin and its JSF industry partners, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, General Electric, DSTO, Australian universities, Government R&D organisations and Australian industry participated in the conference and workshops.

“The JSF Industry Advisory Council’s engagement strategy for Australian industry on JSF has long recognised the need for DSTO, Australian R&D organisations and universities to collaborate with industry to adequately position Australian developed technologies for future promotion into the JSF Program,” said Minister Billson.

The audience welcomed the DMO’s willingness to take the initiative – well before the other international Partners on the JSF Program – in getting industry and the R&D community together now to influence development of the opportunities for the future.

Recognising the significance of the opportunity, the Victorian State Government also provided valuable support for the conference.

AVM John Harvey, Program Manager New Air Combat Capability and responsible for the embryonic JSF Industry & Technology Facilitation Program, explained that some 150 proposals from Australian R&D organisations have already been identified as having potential to contribute to JSF follow-on development or to improve JSF manufacturing processes.

AVM Harvey said inserting Australian technology into future development of the JSF and ensuring that Australia has the technology base to support the JSF is a key Government objective from Australia’s ongoing participation in the global JSF Program.

The audience also welcomed the opportunity to discuss applying technology on overseas programs other than JSF.

In this regard, and as a direct outcome of work leading up to the Conference, AVM Harvey signed an Agreement with Rolls-Royce to explore scope for broad cooperation and collaboration on technologies for aircraft propulsion systems. Areas of potential collaboration already identified include working together to improve titanium alloys for engine applications and work on high temperature composites.