RPDE Recognised in International Network Centric Warfare Awards

Monday, 01 February 2010 at 10:28

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced that the Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation (RPDE) Program has been recognised by the US-based Institute for Defense and Government Advancement in its annual Network Centric Warfare Awards.

RPDE is the winner in the awards’ ‘Outstanding Network Centric Program from a Coalition Partner’ category.

“RPDE, or ‘Rapid’, is a collaborative venture that was established to help Defence resolve difficult and challenging capability problems,” Mr Combet said.

“The Program now has a pool of 183 companies, academia and government agencies from which it can draw the intellectual horsepower necessary to address some of the most diverse and complex problems faced by Defence in the development of solutions to challenging capability issues.

“This award recognises the unique structure and high successful operation of the RPDE Program and the outstanding commitment and contribution of the industry and academia participants to supporting Defence.

“I congratulate all involved in the operation of the RPDE Program, from industry, academia and Defence, on this award,” Mr Combet said.

Link to the Hon. Greg Combet’s Speech at Pacific 2010

 

 

The Hon. Greg Combet addresses RPDE Biannual Meeting of Participants

Monday, 23 November 2009 at 10:30

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, addressed the Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation Programs 8th Biannual Meeting of Participants today.

The Minister invited the attendees to take forward the lessons learned in Rapid, to assist Defence to meet its goals and objectives as outlined in the Government’s White Paper, the Defence Capability Plan the Mortimer reforms and the Strategic Reform Program.

“Rapid provides a unique legal, commercial and contractual framework that enables Defence to access some of the best minds in Australian industry and academia. This is in order to confront difficult and challenging issues that might otherwise have been left unattended.”

“Entire bodies of work can be scoped, contracted and delivered in weeks or a matter of months. This stands in contrast to some of our more lengthy acquisition projects.”

The Minister concluded his speech with the statement “Rapid’s most important legacy to date is that it has shown what is achievable when you start the process in an atmosphere of close cooperation and collaboration.”

Download the speech (23Kb PDF)

 

 

RPDE Continues to attract the best from Industry and Academia

Tuesday, 20 October 2009 at 16:08

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced 54 companies, academic institutions and government agencies have been selected to join the Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation Program (RPDE).

Download Media Release

 

 

31/05/07 - Industry And Academia Race To Join RPDE

Thursday, 08 October 2009 at 10:21

The Defence Rapid Program Further Expanded To Enhance ADF War-Fighting Capability

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson has today announced that 59 companies and academic institutions have been selected to join the ground-breaking Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation (RPDE or Rapid) program.

The latest signings are in addition to 83 other companies and academic institutions which have joined this significant program which is designed to contribute to enhancing ADF war-fighting capacity through accelerated capability change.

ITP3 Media Release

 

 

06/07/07 - Article in DMO's On Target

Monday, 06 August 2007 at 10:36

The Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation (Rapid) Program is a collaborative venture between the Australian Department of Defence and Industry that seeks to improve Defence’s warfighting capability, particularly in relation to network-centric warfare.

Defence, Industry and Rapid – moving forward