The Federal Government has announced a further 12 Australian companies have joined the Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation Program (RPDE).

 

The Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation Program (RPDE) is a partnership between Defence, industry and academic institutions across Australia to fix high risk and complex Defence capability problems.

 

The new organisations to join the program are:

  • Elbit Systems of Australia Pty Ltd;
  • Pilatus Australia Pty Ltd;
  • Artis Group Pty Ltd;
  • Cocoon Data Holdings Limited;
  • Edith Cowan University;
  • Eggler Consulting Engineers;
  • Etherstack Pty Ltd;
  • Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd;
  • Orbital8 Pty Ltd;
  • RPC Technologies Pty Ltd;
  • UniversityofWestern Australia; and
  • ZBOB Engineering Pty Ltd.

The program has contributed to more than a third of the projects in the Defence Capability Plan and the outcomes are exceptional.


Examples of this include:

  • The Anzac Class Frigates Electronic Interference Remediation project which has improved communications and the safety of Naval personnel;
  • Identifying savings to taxpayers of $50,000 a day in fuel costs through better energy management at Forward Operating Bases; and
  • Fast-tracking sensor training for Air Combat Officers so they are ready for the arrival of the new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

 

A full list of RPDE Participants can be found on the RPDE website at http://www.rpde.org.au/participants/