The Australian defense ministry has awarded Melbourne-based Aquaterro an A$35 million contract to refurbish and upgrade the Australian armed forces’ combat helmets.
The five-year deal will see the tiered combat helmet built by United States company Team Wendy refurbished outside the US for the first time.
The helmet provides soldiers 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 defense 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 Australia’s existing fleet of tiered combat helmets by five years, and most importantly, will ensure our soldiers are protected on operations,” minister Price said.
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.
The company has more than 40 employees and supplies tactical and safety equipment to state, territory and federal law enforcement and border protection agencies, as well as the ADF.
