Neel Mehta
BAE Systems plans to establish an AMV35 vehicle innovation and manufacturing center in Australia that will facilitate collaboration with the engineering faculty of a nearby University of Melbourne campus.
The creation of the facility, which will potentially be located at the Fishermans Bend technology hub, is dependent on the company’s bid to be the Australian army’s provider of  combat reconnaissance vehicles, BAE said Sunday.
The company and its teammate Patria offered the AMV35 vehicle and were selected for the program’s risk mitigation phase in 2016.
University of Melbourne students will have access to the manufacturing center’s data, equipment and test facilities, as well as BAE early-career programs.
BAE and the university seek to jointly conduct research and development efforts, as well as support opportunities with internships and graduate placement programs.
Gabby Costigan, CEO of BAE Systems Australia, noted the company has existing partnerships with the University of Melbourne on hypersonics, autonomy guidance, control and Australia’s Defense Cooperative Research Center for Trusted Autonomous Systems.
