Babcock Australasia (Babcock) will fast track the delivery of an innovative new pavement solution, set to revolutionise the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) ability to rapidly construct temporary pavements in remote locations. Hundreds of the heavy duty mats – sourced through Babcock’s ADF Ground Support Equipment contact – will form part of the shipment, following a successful trial of the product by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) last year.
Known as Dura-Base, the high-density polyethylene composite mats interlock to form a stable surface which can be installed with minimal preparation in virtually any landscape for accelerated use as a taxiway, apron or hardstand. This capability has increasing relevance and strategic importance to the ADF as it shifts its focus to austere environments such as Australia’s north and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The consignment will be delivered in conjunction with Babcock’s supply chain partner JWA Composite Matting, which is the in-country agent for the US-made product. The matting will be used as an alternative to AM2 aluminium matting, which has been utilised by the RAAF since the 1960s. The shipment is expected to be delivered by the middle of the year.
Babcock Australasia Managing Director Mission & Support Systems Richard Udall said: “Successfully partnering with our supply chain is paramount to delivering practical, theatre-ready products and services that ensure the safety and effectiveness of the defence forces we proudly serve. By fostering a collaborative relationship with JWA and leveraging its cutting-edge technologies, we are able to equip our forces with the most advanced and reliable solutions to meet the ever-evolving challenges they face in the field. Dura-Base helps to create an agile combat environment by providing rapid load bearing capability in hard to reach places as well as a means of keeping personnel and assets mobile. Dura-Base has traditionally been utilised in the Oil and Gas industry, so this procurement aligns with our commitment to fostering sustainable opportunities for our supply chain in the defence sector.”
JWA Composite Matting Sales and Marketing Manager, Warren Pickering, said: “Dura-Base consistently performs well in various scenarios and can be rapidly deployed under challenging conditions. Typically, a team of three can install up to 900-square-metres per day, making it ideal for time-sensitive projects and temporary deployments. JWA is proud to partner with Babcock to leverage our experience supporting heavy industry to benefit ADF operations.”
Babcock and Surf Life Saving NSW sign MOU
Babcock Australasia (Babcock) and Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) have joined forces to pursue long-range drone technology and services that could radically transform the state’s surf lifesaving operations into a broader national asset for disaster prevention, response, and recovery. The two parties formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding today, which seeks to explore opportunities to modernise and enhance coastal operations using Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Remote Pilot Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
Primary areas of focus will include improving air observation and intelligence-gathering capabilities for search and rescue, environmental monitoring, shark watch, national disaster relief RPAS services and maritime operations that mitigate the need for traditional rotary wing operations. Babcock and SLSNSW, via its subsidiary Australian UAV Service (AUAVS), will now jointly evaluate potential long-range technology platforms to meet requirements, with suitable solutions progressed through to testing, initially along the NSW Central Coast.
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