THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
115/2008
INDIA SWEEPS UP AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY
The Australian Minesweeping System, developed by the Defence Science
and Technology Organisation (DSTO), has scored another export success
with India being the latest to acquire the innovative system that protects ships
from underwater mines.
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon Warren Snowdon
MP, said the sale to India was the largest single overseas order for this
technology since it was first exported in 1992.
“Defence has now received over $3 million in royalties for the worldwide sale
of the Australian Minesweeping System while a significant number of jobs
have been created for Australian workers,” Mr Snowdon said.
Thales Australia has a worldwide licence to market the system which is now in
service with the navies of Australia, USA, Denmark, Poland, Japan, UAE,
Indonesia and Thailand.
The DSTO-designed system is the world’s first operational sweep to emulate
the magnetic signals of ships, causing sea mines to detonate prematurely and
safely out of range of target vessels. The technology has been further
improved in collaboration with Thales Australia.
The Australian Minesweeping System was famously used during the 2003
Gulf War when it was used by the Royal Navy to clear smart mines from the
port of Umm Qasr in order to deliver humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people.
Thales Australia CEO, Chris Jenkins, presented Mr Snowdon with a cheque of
$514,358 in royalties for the sale to India.
Mr Snowdon said the continuous improvement of the minesweeping
technology represents best practice interaction between DSTO and industry.
“This is a genuine collaboration in which DSTO and industry have shared the
risks and the rewards; it has enhanced Defence capability, produced revenue
for industry and the Commonwealth and reinforced Australia’s reputation for
technology innovation.”
Media contacts:
Kate Sieper (Mr Snowdon)
02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689
Jimmy Hafesjee (DSTO)
02 6128 6376 or 0404 042 457
Defence Media Liaison
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
