Lumen Winter 2018 - Flipbook - Page 22
DEFENCE
INDUSTRY
MOMENTUM
BUILDING
IN SA
Australia’s upgrade to the over-the-horizon
radar will add to the amazing defence industry
momentum building in South Australia.
The recent announcement from the
Australian Government of the $1.2 billion
contract to upgrade one of Australia’s major
defence facilities is wonderful news for more
than just successful bidders BAE Systems
Australia and partners.
Having this major project centred in our
state is great news for South Australia and
its thriving defence sector, as well as for the
future job prospects of young engineers,
technologists and support professionals.
The contract is to upgrade the Jindalee
Operational Radar Network (JORN), an
over-the-horizon radar network critical
to safeguarding Australia. JORN protects
Australia’s coastal approaches through a
network of three remote radars in northern
Australia. This remarkable system can see
around the curvature of the earth – “over the
horizon” – by bouncing radar transmissions
(and their returns) off the ionosphere.
The upgrade will require more than 500
highly skilled technicians and engineers
working for BAE Systems and their supply
chain, with most based in South Australia.
The announcement is also good news for
the University of Adelaide which has a
20
The University of Adelaide
distinguished history of research in defence
over many decades and is Australia’s leading
university in defence engagement with
government and industry.
The University will play a key role in the
future of JORN, working with BAE Systems
and the defence sector on a variety of
technological challenges. We’re proud to
support this critical project for Australia
through our research and provision of skilled
graduates. A highlight of the University’s
support for JORN is the incredible “Sapphire
Clock”. In a $4M project, funded by both
DST Group and the Australian Defence
Forces, the University of Adelaide is
transitioning the world’s most accurate clock
from a laboratory instrument to one that can
be used as a key component of the nextgeneration JORN.
A member of the original team that
developed Australia’s over-the-horizon radar
capability and retired DST Chief of Division,
Bruce Ward, has recently been appointed
Adjunct Professor at the University of
Adelaide. He will continue to undertake
ionospheric physics research that helps
us maintain world leadership.
