NGTF- Multi-Function Aperture Technology Phase 2

The Next Generation Technology Fund (NGTF) Multi-Function Aperture (MFA) Grand Challenge Program is developing next generation phased array antennas capable of simultaneously supporting radar, communications, and electronic warfare functions over a wide frequency band. This is being achieved through partnership with Australian Universities, Industry, and Defence, with DSTG as the lead. The goal is to transition this development into defence capability, ensuring Australia’s priority sovereign industry remains globally competitive in this area.

The program has been designed in three phases intended to run over at least a five-year period. The first phase of the program is supported by five Australian universities under a multi-party collaborative agreement. This phase develops the core concepts, addressing key S&T challenges and retiring risk to set up foundational technology pathways in the next phase.

The program will continue to attract a national security classification, requiring all participants to have baseline clearances and appropriate facilities and ICT infrastructure. University participation will occur under the Defence Science Partnering (DSP) 2.0 deed, and industry under NGTF research contracts. There will be heads of agreement between the university and industry teams to enable open and transparent collaboration in the MFA program across the teams. All foreground IP will be owned by the commonwealth, however, there may be licensing opportunities to commercialize Commonwealth owned IP for non-MFA purposes.

The open call for MFA Phase 2 team partners will seek responses from interested industry and academic organizations that can contribute expertise and ideas as a member of the proposed MFA team and, or that have technologies relevant to Phase 2 of the MFA program. Suitability will be determined on the merit of the responses, however, respondents may also be asked to prepare a fully funded white paper on one or more relevant design concepts.