The Defence Science and Technology Organisation’s (DSTO) Adelaide laboratory continues to play an essential role in maritime research for Australia’s future security.
In a visit to the site today, the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, received briefings from Defence scientists on their work into maritime security.
“I am very impressed by the variety and depth of support DSTO Edinburgh provides for our nation’s maritime Defence,” Senator Feeney said.
Technologies demonstrated to Senator Feeney include a ‘Slocum Glider’: a small, commercially available undersea vehicle, capable of long term monitoring of oceanographic parameters such as temperature, pressure and salinity; and ‘Sentinel’: a DSTO-developed unmanned system for detecting undersea vessels.
“Underwater technologies will play a significant role in the future of Australia’s Defence and security requirements,” Senator Feeney said.
“As a large, sparsely-populated island nation, the cost-effective surveillance of our surrounding undersea areas forms a crucial element of any Australian national Defence and security policy.
“DSTO scientists and engineers work with Australian industry and other government organisations to develop, assess and demonstrate new, cost-effective approaches for our Australian Defence Force (ADF) to use in the Defence of our nation. The importance of their work to the ADF cannot be overstated.”
Senator Feeney was also briefed on various research projects conducted by DSTO in support of other areas of Defence and national security.