Newly privatised defence company ADI Limited today announced a major restructure of its operations.
The announcement came on the day ADI handed over its first fully Australian built minehunter ship, Hawkesbury to the Royal Australian Navy at Newcastle.
ADI managing director Mr Jean-Georges Malcor said the key objectives of the restructure were to: **Create a strong, customer focused company. **Assist ADI become a leader in its field in Australia and establish itself as a key player in export markets. **Assist the transfer of technology from its new owners, Transfield and Thomson-CSF. **Maximise the return on ADI's research and development in Australia.
"Our goal is transform ADI into the leading technology provider for the Australian Defence Force and, increasingly, a source of cutting edge products for the civil sector market," Mr Malcor said.
"Without a very focused research and development program, an impressive products portfolio and ready access to international markets, an Australian company will find it almost impossible to be successful in the future.
"ADI will have access to the products and technologies that Transfield and Thomson-CSF have developed and be able to incorporate that knowledge into our own research and development programs, so we can boost development of products for use in this country and for export."
Under the new structure, there will be five business units: **C4ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance). This unit will be responsible for information systems, software and services, command, control, and combat systems, communication systems, sensor systems, simulation and training and mine countermeasures. **Major Programs. Responsible for naval systems including the minehunter project and guided missile frigates upgrade project, air systems, land systems, guided weapons and naval technical support unit. **Services. Responsible for marine engineering, outsourcing, systems support, through-life support, environmental services, communications support and facilities management. **Ordnance.: Responsible for the design, development and manufacture of explosives and propellants and ammunition products. Engineering and Vehicles : Responsible for the design, development and manufacture of military and specialist vehicles, heavy engineering, light and precision engineering, small arms and live fire training systems.
These five business units will be supported by four departments: **Finance and administration. **Business development and strategy. **Human resources. **Technical and engineering. Includes responsibility for research and development and technology transfer.
ADI employs 3,000 people across Australia. Its major projects include: **Production of six state-of-the-art minehunter ships for the Royal Australian Navy under a $1 billion contract. **Upgrade of guided missile frigates for the Royal Australian Navy - $900m plus contract. **Manufacture of 370 infantry mobility vehicles for the Australian Army - $200 million contract.
