The Queensland rocket manufacturer has been granted the investment to acquire mixing equipment to enhance the creation of solid rocket propellant for guided weapons.
The company, which recently rebranded from Black Sky Aerospace to Black Sky Industries, is best known for producing ammonium perchlorate, a key chemical for rocket fuel.
The business believes it’s the first in Australia to produce the explosive agent, which is used as a component of fireworks, flash powders, explosives and smokeless jet. It makes up about 70 per cent of most rocket fuel.
It also produces solid rocket propellant and motors, including its Wagtail Rocket Assisted Take-Off (RATO) technology used in drones.
Fellow aerospace company Lunar Outpost Oceania also received $96,000 as part of the Defence Industry Development Grants program.
The Victorian company is one of the two main organisations that form part of the ELO2 consortium tasked with building Australia’s upcoming lunar rover.
In total, 58 grants have been distributed across four key streams: sovereign industrial priorities, exports, skilling and security.
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Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the program is crucial to the government’s commitment to strengthening Australia’s defence capabilities through local industry.
“This investment by the Albanese government in local businesses and jobs will provide vital support to people who are making a critical contribution to our national security and a future made in Australia,” Minister Conroy said.
Among the most significant grants are four $1 million allocations to companies in South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria under the sovereign industrial priorities stream. These grants will support manufacturing components for submarines, guided weapons, aerospace systems and armoured vehicles.
Minister Conroy added, “The new Defence Industry Development Grants initiative creates one cohesive program, contributing to a stronger and more resilient sovereign defence industry that is able to meet the challenges of the future.”
More than 200 employees in defence-related industries will benefit from targeted technical training under the program’s skilling stream. Grants are being used to upskill workers in areas such as non-destructive testing, naval fabrication, cyber security and project management.
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