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Research

DSTO has research facilities across Australia.

DSTO Locations

DSTO Edinburgh

The following research is undertaken at DSTO Edinburgh:

Radar Research include microwave radar, radar signatures, radar modeling and analysis, radar system and technologies, multi-sensor fusion, imagery collection and radar signal processing.

Information Technology The main areas include advanced computer capabilities and military information network with a focus on advanced network integrity, operational information security and trusted computer systems.

Command and Control  Research concentrates on maritime, air and land command and control systems including intelligence processes, analysis and dissemination, geospatial information systems and integrated personnel.

Communications Secure communications for Defence information networks, enhanced communications surveillance systems, and decision support techniques to improve information processing.

Electro-Optic (EO) Research on Electro-Optic electronic warfare, EO countermeasures and EO technologies which including threat warning systems, self-protection of platforms against EO terminal threats, and development and support in laser and optical, surveillance, and EO protective measures for ADF sensors and weapons, and personnel.

Electronic Warfare Including threat warning and countermeasures, electronic warfare systems in the land, maritime and aerospace. Exploitation of the electromagnetic spectrum to enhance the performance of our own sensors weapons platforms and command systems.

Sonar Work including sonar systems development on varies platforms, sonar data processing and underwater acoustics research.

Operations Analysis Maritime operations research into the effectiveness of combinations of sensors, weapons, platforms and tactics used in all modes of maritime warfare, and joint operations in the littoral environment are expected to be a high priority. Land operations research covering operation analysis and evaluation: task force modernisation, support system study, land future study and land force operation.

Human Factors land operations Land human factor studies with emphasis on human systems integration including training technology, solder system integration and land force operations.

DSTO Melbourne

The following research is undertaken at DSTO Melbourne:

Propulsion The propulsion research covers engine performance, applied combustion, aerothermodynamics, fuel science and machine dynamics.

Structures and Fatigue Air vehicle research covers airframe life and reliability assessment, helicopters, airworthiness support, structural test and evaluation, structural optimisation, accident investigation and structures infrastructure. Maritime structure studies include platform life extension and structural integrity, reliability and safety issues for surface ships and submarines.

Composite Materials The research covers air and maritime platform metallic and composite materials study. It includes metals technology, forensic engineering, damage prognosis, smart structures and advanced diagnostics, materials infrastructure.

Air operational analysis and simulation Air operations research with emphasis on tactical operations, mission and campaign analysis, and operational performance assessment.

Human factors in aerospace environments Air human factor studies with emphasis on crew environments and training including human-in-the-loop simulation and aircrew environments through the combination of human and computer sciences in support of current and future air assets.

Human factors in maritime environments Maritime human factor research includes assessing how various factors in the maritime environment such as fatigue, work load, kinetosis, air quality on board submarines and human-machine interface effect the performance of ADF personnel.

Combatant protection against chemical, biological and radiological environments Research emphasises the methods for detection, identification and protection the ADF from current and emerging CBRN threats and to support the development of ADF capability to operate in contaminated and/or stressful environments.

Combatant Performance Research involves non-NBC combatant protection and operational performance of warfighter. It includes application of nano-technology, textiles rechnology, clothing and ensemble design evaluation, personal ballistic and blast protection, heat mitigation strategies, biomechanics and physiological performance and fatigue evaluations.

Verification and analysis of a broad range of toxic materials The facilities are used in the research include mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and other analysis tools.

DSTO Scottsdale

The following research is undertaken at DSTO Scottsdale:

Nutrition Research on the development of ADF feeding systems suitable for all operational situations, food science and nutrition.

DSTO Innisfail

The following research is undertaken at DSTO Innisfail:

Environmental exposure studies  Including hot wet cleared, hot wet Jungle, hot dry, marine atmospheric and tropical estuarine immersion

DSTO Pyrmont

The following research is undertaken at DSTO Pyrmont

Maritime Operations Analysis Operations research into the effectiveness of combinations of sensors, weapons, platforms and tactics used in all modes of maritime warfare. Maritime and joint operations in the littoral environment are expected to be a high priority.

Maritime Tactics and Concepts Maritime Tactics and Concepts research provides S&T support to the Fleet-in-Being and development of concepts for the Future Fleet. It includes the Navy Experimentation (Headmark) team and related experimentation infrastructure (the Concept Exploration and Analysis Laboratory - CEAL)..

Maritime Capability Studies The studies assess the effectiveness of current and potential future maritime platforms in littoral warfare, air warfare, anti-ship missile defence and surface warfare.  It involves the development and use of models and simulations at various levels of complexity to assess both the performance of sensor and weapon systems and the tactical effectiveness of maritime surface combatants and aircraft

Littoral Warfare Systems and Technologies Research including mine warfare system, rapid assessment of littoral environment and littoral operational command support.

Underwater weapons and Countermeasures Research includes minesweeping, mine jamming, mine algorithm development, sonar, acoustic mine imaging etc.

DSTO Stirling

The following research is undertaken at DSTO Stirling:

Maritime Combat Systems Provides S&T advice to RAN and DMO on new Collins Class submarine combat systems integration; Researches novel combat system concept; Studies the interaction between system and operators in combat systems laboratory.

Sonar Systems Research enhances the Collins class submarine sonar performance and replay/analyse submarine hull acoustic data.

Maritime Operations Analysis Support both pro and anti submarine warfare activities, exercise analysis and tactical development, capability and future undersea warfare concept development.

Noise and vibration studies The research focuses on reducing the acoustic signature of Collins Class submarine and investigating the mechanical vibration and acoustic radiation.

Material Investigations Support on request to the Collins Class submarine and Anzac Frigate to provide assistance in determining the nature of structural and mechanical failures in order to improve the reliability of RAN platforms. 

Reliability Engineering The main focus of the research is reducing through life operational costs and increasing platform reliability and availability of ANZAC class and Collins class submarines.   Current research includes optimising maintenance programs through Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) support and advice, advanced Condition Monitoring techniques and improved data collection techniques.

DSTO Canberra/Fernhill

The following research is undertaken at DSTO Canberra/Fernhill

Analysis to support strategic decision-making The SCB program includes: analysing future technology and implications; assisting with the development of the strategic framework; assisting the definition and articulation of military strategy; linking the military strategy to military response options and military end states; and exploring new concepts and assessing their potential effectiveness in ADF operations.