Soldier safety to be improved by Defence and CSIRO

The Department of Defence and the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have signed a $3.2 million collaboration agreement for a prototype respirator filter designed to protect soldiers.

The new broad spectrum chemical, biological and radiological respirator filter for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will be jointly developed under the agreement.

The CSIRO has been working with Defence since February 2016 to develop a prototype filter that would meet the ADF’s capability needs for respiratory protection, using nanotechnology that provides enhanced protection against toxic industrial chemicals.

“This is a wonderful example of leveraging world-class Australian scientific research and development to produce a respirator canister that provides levels of protection unavailable today,” said Minster for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne.

Following successful completion of the proof-of-concept phase of the project, Defence has committed funding of $3.2 million to enable CSIRO to develop this technology known as ‘metal organic frameworks’ into a filter canister for use with the in-service respirator.

“The 2016 ‘Defence Industry Policy Statement’ outlined the government’s commitment to building and harnessing the innovation potential of Australia’s defence industry,” Pyne said.

“Later this year, the Turnbull government will launch the Defence Innovation Hub, which brings together existing Defence innovation programs to deliver a more streamlined and agile approach to Defence investment in innovation.”