Second Stage Focussed on C4ISR, Vehicles and Tactical Equipment

Canberra announced on 9 May that it will equip Australia’s special operations forces with more advanced equipment and technologies as part of a A$1 billion ($700 million) upgrade programme under Project Greyfin.

The government said that this second stage of the A$3 billion project is aimed at providing the special forces with “highly specialised communications and intelligence equipment, new water and land vehicles, tactical equipment” as well as more modern weapons and facilities. “Our special forces and commandos are the best in the world at what they do, and we’re committed to ensuring they’ve got the right kit to do their jobs,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, adding that Australia’s defence industry is playing a growing role in delivering the specialist capability the Special Operations Command needs.

Since announcing Project Greyfin in 2019, Defence has been focused on bolstering specialist equipment and aiming to enhance communications, surveillance, and counter-terrorism capabilities for Special Operations Command personnel. This second stage of the project aims to update command and control with a focus on “agility and strategic posture”, said Morrison.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton noted that the goal is to ensure that the special forces have access to the best and latest weapons and equipment to better respond to both local and regional threats. “Australia’s Special Operations Command – the Special Air Service Regiment, 1st and 2nd Commando Regiments, Special Operations Engineer Regiment, and the Special Operations Logistic Squadron – need to be ready to deploy on operations anywhere in the world, at short notice, and in very uncertain conditions […] Given the rapidly evolving strategic and threat environment facing Australia, special forces troops need the best gear. And it’s equally important that Defence is agile enough to get this equipment to the troops, when they need it”.

The first stage of the project, worth A$500 million, was approved in August 2019, with equipment being acquired including: body armour; weapons; diving, parachuting, roping, and climbing systems; medical SAR items; communication devices; and human performance training and support tools to better respond to threats, including terrorism.

Meanwhile, Canberra announced separately it has selected Queensland-based company Gilmour Space Technologies to develop and launch a new sovereign surveillance satellite as part of a A$7billion investment in new space capabilities. “I am proud to announce this A$15 million investment in new military space capabilities to counter threats and assure our continued access to space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,” said Dutton, noting that Defence first established a partnership with Gilmour Space in 2020 to jointly develop defence-related space technologies, particularly rocket motor-system components.

“Since that time, we have been testing materials and propulsion technologies – all with a view to developing a hybrid rocket to launch payloads and small satellites,” he added, noting that Defence is aiming to launch a satellite prototype in conjunction with Gilmour Space by mid-2023.