Can Australia's Defence Export Unit Hit AUD1 Billion Target?

12 Februari 2010

Bushmaster - have been exported to several countries (image : R. Bianchi)

Australia's Defence Export Unit (DEU) is aiming to achieve international sales of more than AUD1 billion (USD876 million) over the next two years, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has revealed to Jane's.

A spokesperson said that the target is an indication of the success that the DEU has attained since it was established on 30 January 2008 to "identify future overseas opportunities for Australian defence companies".

As part of this implementation, the DEU was set a target by the DoD to achieve defence exports valued at more than 10 times the unit's running costs by the end of 2009.

The spokesperson said that the DEU has supported Australian companies win contracts to a value in excess of AUD300 million, while its running costs were less than AUD4 million.

"Looking ahead," he added, "the Defence Export Unit is supporting more than 30 Australian companies in export opportunities estimated well over AUD1 billion over the next two or so years - and this continues to grow."

DoD statistics also show that Australian companies have become more active in exploring defence export opportunities outside the administrative remit of the DEU. For instance, the DoD revealed to Jane's that the value of defence export approvals that passed through the Defence Export Control Office (DECO) has increased significantly over the past few years.

(Jane's)