$1.2m for Defence contractor

A LARA Defence manufacturer has been given a $1.2 million boost to develop worldleading Joint Strike Fighter countermeasures, creating 40 jobs in the process.

Chemring Australia received a $1.2 million Local Industry Fund for Transition grant to expand its Lara facility to better enable it to design, install and commission manufacturing, and test infrastructure for the F35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter) countermeasures.

Those countermeasures include flares to protect the fighters from ground to air infra-red-guided missiles.

Victorian Industry and Employment Minister Ben Carroll announced the State Government grant this week.

“With companies like Chemring Australia at the forefront of their field — that future is bright,” Mr Carroll said. “Thanks to our support, Chemring Australia will be able to create jobs, expand its operations and boost capability to help it secure more defence contracts.”

Lara state Labor MP John Eren said the grant would help create 40 more jobs.

“Chemring Australia is a local manufacturing success story — we’re proud to be supporting a company that is investing locally, creating jobs and boosting our economy,” Mr Eren said.

Chemring Australia is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of militarygrade products for the defence and safety markets.