Aquaterro secures over $160 million in Survivability and Lethality Contracts with ADF
The Australian Government today announced two major Department of Defence contracts signed with Aquaterro for arms and armour. It is one of the largest Defence contract-value announcements to any Australian company of 2026.
Aquaterro supplies, integrates, supports, maintains, and manufactures products and systems for: defence, law enforcement, first response, and rescue, for Sea, Land, and Air domains.
Australian Federal Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon. Pat Conroy MP said in his announcement today;
“This investment is about keeping Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators safe and supporting local defence industry and jobs. Aquaterro’s work will play an important role in strengthening Australia’s sovereign domestic supply chains and supporting the sustainment of critical ADF capability.”
“The confidence and trust the Commonwealth has shown in Aquaterro, is incredibly rewarding for our team.” said Aquaterro Founder and CEO, Graeme Bulte.
“These vital elements of the Integrated Soldier System, combining both Arms and Armour, with total integration, engineering, support and sustainment being provided by Australians, in Australia, is a great example of what can be accomplished with an Australian owned company delivering on major contract requirements for Australians in uniform.”
The two Soldier Systems contracts the Australian Department of Defence has signed with Aquaterro are;
The Combat Helmet Contract an investment by the Australian Department of Defence of up to $160 million, for supply and support of the Combat Helmet and Combat Vehicle Crewman-Enhanced Helmet, as well as enabling advancements in technology to be adopted throughout the contract term. Aquaterro has invested in the only Combat Ballistic Helmet Refurbishment Facility outside the United States, a multimillion-dollar sovereign capability which provides through-life complete refurbishment of the fleet to ensure protection and life-of-type value is maximised. Aquaterro has supported the ADF with headborne protection systems for 10 years, supplying over 75,000 Team Wendy Combat Helmets, as well as Armor Source/Peacemaker CVC-E Combat Vehicle Crewman helmets, and conducting refurbishment maintenance services on over 30,000 helmets from the ADF fleet.
The new contract also includes the provision of 100% Designed and Made in Australia Peacemaker® camouflage helmet covers for Combat and CVC-E Helmets. Aquaterro and its’ Peacemaker® design and manufacturing enterprise, is one of the very few entities licensed to manufacture with AMCU (Australian Multicam Camouflage Uniform). The first purchase order under the new contract for Peacemaker® Helmet Covers has been published, valued at AUD$2.45m.
Peacemaker® has become Australia’s premier domestic brand of tactical textile products, with widespread major contract supply to Australian state and federal law enforcement, as well as Defence.
The Aquaterro Services Contract in support of LAND300, will provide recurring-services direct support for SIG SAUER small-arms systems, as well as enable future provisions and next generations of technology and support. The work will be centred at Aquaterro’s 4.5 acre, highsecurity defence precinct, including, its armoury, range, secure warehouse, advanced manufacturing workshops, and integration facility. The contract includes the joint capabilities of Aquaterro and SIG SAUER working together collaboratively to directly support the Australian Defence Force.
Graeme Bulte said; “The collaborative partnership Aquaterro and SIG have developed over many years, is best described in SIG’s stated mission: to be a reliable, long-term partner to our customers, recognized for the quality and value of our products and the reliability of our commitments. This newly executed contract will provide the Australian Defence Force with the direct benefit of that commitment, and the vertical capability SIG and Aquaterro can deliver.”
The two contracts represent a substantial investment by the Australian Government to support the individual men and women of the Australian Defence Force – the most important of all defence platforms – with world leading integrated soldier systems.