DATAPOD Australia secures $20 million Defence contract
Canberra-based DATAPOD Australia has been awarded a two-year, $20 million contract to provide Defence with portable, containerised data systems which can be rapidly deployed by sea, air or road.
“DATAPOD will build four modular data centres which can house a wide range of Defence Information and Communications Technology equipment,” Minister for Defence Senator Linda Reynolds said. “These centres can be scaled for different needs, and are interoperable with a range of potential and emerging technologies and platforms.
“Our Defence Force needs to be agile and responsive to the evolving threats we face.
“This investment recognises the need to have assets that can be deployed and re-deployed to meet operational needs, without unnecessary delays caused by constructing facilities with a long lead time.”
DATAPOD has previously supplied data centres integrated into Defence’s existing and planned operational platforms and Information and Communications Technology equipment.
The announcement of DATAPOD’s contract was made as part of a $1 billion investment package designed to boost Australia’s defence industry. The Australian government will increase funding for Defence innovation, industry grants, skilling and micro credentialing and cyber training for Defence industry. It will also accelerate important ADF capability development projects, targeting key manufacturing, construction and high-tech sectors.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package is estimated to support around 4,000 jobs across Australia and help many small and medium sized businesses in the defence-industry supply chain.
“Supporting our defence industry is all part of our JobMaker plan – especially high-paying, high-skilled jobs that ensure we are supporting a robust, resilient and internationally competitive defence industry. We want to build our sovereign industrial capabilities and Australian workforce to keep our people safe.”
Supporting Australian defence industry is crucial to the economy’s recovery, said Senator Reynolds. “Already we’ve fast-tracked a range of capability, infrastructure, skilling and workforce initiatives over the next two years. This includes rolling out a number of Defence estate works tenders as part of Defence’s economic stimulus initiative package, that will run over the 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years.”