Datapod secures defence contract to deliver portable data systems

Local company Datapod has secured a A$20m ($14.48m) contract to deliver Australia’s Department of Defence with portable, containerised data systems that can be deployed by sea, air or road.

Under the contract, Datapod will develop four modular data centres for the department to accommodate defence information and communications technology equipment.

Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said: “These centres can be scaled for different needs, and are interoperable with a range of potential and emerging technologies and platforms.”

The contract is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial capabilities.

This comes after the Australian Government decided to invest A$1bn ($720m) to boost the local defence industry to accelerate the recovery of its Covid-19 affected economy.

Australian Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said: “Datapod is an Australian-owned company that has an outstanding track record supporting defence with its state-of-the-art systems.

“It has previously supplied data centres integrated into defence’s existing and planned operational platforms and information and communications technology equipment.

“This investment by the Morrison Government provides job security for Datapod’s core workforce of 27 people, and a further 80 manufacturing sub-contractors across Australia.”

Recently, the government also increased funding to its Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry (SADI) grants programme. The move is expected to develop a skilled workforce to support the defence industry sector.

The allocation for the SADI grants programme was increased from A$4m ($2.9m) to $17m ($12.31m) annually to the end of 2021-22.