Investing In Future Defence Technology

Innovative defence science technology will now be given a greater hand to become operational reality, through a new Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) program, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, announced today.>> The Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Extension Program is designed to fast-track successfully demonstrated projects for further capability development.>> The CTD Extension Program builds on work already undertaken by DSTO to encourage Australian industry to innovate through the original CTD program. The CTD provides industry with the opportunity to demonstrate new technology, showing Defence the potential performance and technical risk associated with its implementation.>> The Extension Program is the next step in the process to move successfully demonstrated CTD technologies closer to operational capability for the Australian Defence Force, Mr Snowdon said.>> The Government is investing A$10 million a year over five years to kick-start some of the successful CTD projects for further development.>> According to Defence priorities, the projects for the Extension Program are currently being short-listed from 33 successful CTD projects, Mr Snowdon said.>> The CTD Extension Program is further evidence of the Governments commitment to innovation in defence technologies and its continued support for industry to achieve capability outcomes.>> CTD Extension Program will be managed by DSTO in consultation with the Defence Materiel Organisation and Defences Capability Development Group.