Australian army multispectral camouflage nets market scan case study

Introduction

Leveraging its expertise in understanding both the Australian and international industrial bases, Aimpoint was engaged by the Australian Army HQ to conduct a comprehensive market scan for Multispectral Camouflage Nets. This engagement aimed to deliver an evaluative report covering technical, programmatic, commercial, and Australian Industry Capability (AIC)/sovereign requirements, with recommendations for a minimal viable capability (MVC).

Phase 1: Program planning and requirement setting
Aimpoint commenced the project by developing a Program Plan, incorporating feedback and formal acceptance from Army HQ. This plan established the project’s structure, budget, and timeline, ensuring that deliverables aligned with Army’s requirements:
  • Requirement setting: In this initial phase, Aimpoint collaborated with end-users, Defence Science and Technology (DST), and other stakeholders to define the core requirements for the market scan. A critical inclusion was Defence’s Sovereign Industry Capability Priority (SICP), specifically focusing on “Combat clothing survivability and signature reduction technologies” as a sovereignty requirement.
This phase established the foundational criteria that would guide the market scan and final recommendations.
Phase 2: Request For Information (RFI) and market engagement
With the requirements established, Aimpoint conducted a thorough domestic and international market scan using two approaches:
  • RFI via ICN gateway: Aimpoint submitted an RFI on the ICN Gateway platform, which connects Defence with over 80,000 companies in Australia. This RFI outlined the technical and operational requirements, inviting responses from industry participants.
  • Desktop audit: To capture any additional providers not present on ICN, Aimpoint performed a desktop audit to identify potential suppliers and direct them to the RFI. This dual approach ensured a comprehensive industry engagement, maximising the visibility of viable suppliers.
Phase 3: Evaluation and reporting
Following the RFI responses, Aimpoint conducted an initial evaluation to determine the landscape of companies and assess their alignment with Army’s requirements:
  • Preliminary findings report: Aimpoint provided Army with an initial report detailing key non-compliance areas and a high-level view of market capabilities. This report served as an early insight into supplier alignment with Army’s needs.
  • Final evaluation and recommendations: In the final phase, Aimpoint consolidated all findings into a comprehensive evaluation report. This included detailed assessments of technical capabilities, commercial viability, programmatic alignment, and AIC/sovereignty considerations.
Aimpoint’s final report provided Army HQ with a clear, actionable overview of the current global market for multispectral camouflage nets, equipping them with insights to inform future procurement decisions.
Outcome
By delivering a structured evaluation and recommendations, Aimpoint enabled the Australian Army to make informed decisions regarding the procurement of multispectral camouflage nets. This project demonstrated Aimpoint’s capability to blend technical evaluation with industry engagement, ensuring Defence projects are aligned with sovereign capability priorities.