Aquaterro wins $35 million Army helmet contract

Melbourne-based Aquaterro has won an historic $35 million contract to refurbish and upgrade the ADF’s combat helmets. The five-year contract will create 10 highly skilled, technical jobs at the company in Melbourne’s south-east.

This is the first time the tiered combat helmet built by United States company Team Wendy has been refurbished outside the US. The helmet provides ADF troops with protection against ballistic, fragmentation and blunt force trauma, incorporating a ballistic protection shell, suspension and retention systems, and accessory mounts and rails.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price congratulated Aquaterro for winning the $7 million a year contract, which has seen it establish Australia’s first combat helmet refurbishment and upgrade program.

“This program will extend the life of the Australian Defence Force’s existing fleet of tiered combat helmets by five years, and most importantly, will ensure our soldiers are protected on operations,” Minister Price said.

“Aquaterro’s work in establishing this program will help ensure the ADF has the best available capability to defend Australia and its national interests.”

With the majority of required spare parts manufactured in Australia, work on the helmets started in July at Aquaterro’s purpose-built facility in Pakenham.

This major contract should give Aquaterro the confidence to invest in its business in the future, while supporting local jobs.