$2.7 million awarded to Uni for defence research
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
The University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ has won a total of $2.7 million from the State Government to help fund critical defence research projects for South Australia.
In the latest round of the announced this week, the University will collaborate with , the (DSTO), and the in key scientific research.
The majority of the funds - $1.5 million - have been awarded to Professors and to develop high-powered fibre lasers for use in critical defence applications. The two researchers, from the , will play a leading role in producing third-generation lasers to assist SA's defence industry.
"The immediate applications for these lasers include jamming of heat-seeking missiles homing in on airplanes and the further development of novel lasers for defence against advanced threats," Professor Munch says.
"This work will also provide significant research opportunities for advanced students in laser physics and engineering and generate more high tech jobs in the SA defence industry."
Scientists and engineers from the University, DSTO and Tenix will collaborate on the project to strengthen the SA Defence Photonics Cluster and the national focus on defence.
The State Government has also awarded $900,000 to a project led by the University's Professor to develop new communication technologies for the Australian defence industry.
Professor Rumsewicz, the Director of the (CDCIN), will work with the at the University of South Australia to build a South Australian Networking Laboratory (SANLAB).
"This laboratory will provide experimentation facilities and research expertise to develop , an emerging communication technology that holds great promise for the Aust