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Defence Value Proposition

Your Sovereign Australian Supply Chain Partner

We help defence primes strengthen their Australian Industry Capability plans with genuine local content, sovereign IP, and pre-packaged AIC data that simplifies your tender submissions.

Australian Industry Capability

How We Help You Meet AIC Obligations

Australian Industry Capability is scored at 10-20% of tender evaluation criteria on major defence programmes. Primes need Australian suppliers who can demonstrate genuine local content, not just an ABN. Maxwell & Higgs provides the evidence, documentation, and sovereign capability story that strengthens your AIC plan and differentiates your bid.

  • check_circle 100% Australian-owned — no foreign parent or equity dilution
  • check_circle 100% Australian content — design, materials, fabrication, and assembly from our Moorabbin facility
  • check_circle Sovereign IP — all intellectual property held onshore with no foreign licensing constraints
  • check_circle Regional employment — skilled workforce in Melbourne’s south-east manufacturing corridor
  • check_circle SME development story — genuine small business growth narrative for your AIC plan
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Ready-to-Use Documentation

Pre-Packaged AIC Data

What We Provide

  • check_circle Completed AIC plan data sheets with verified Australian content percentages
  • check_circle Ownership structure documentation confirming 100% Australian ownership
  • check_circle Workforce data including headcount, apprenticeships, and skills profile
  • check_circle Supply chain mapping showing local sourcing and subcontractor relationships
  • check_circle Sovereign IP register with patent and design registration details
  • check_circle Quality certifications and compliance documentation package
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Download AIC Value Statement

Our AIC Value Statement is ready to drop into your tender response. Pre-formatted with all the data points evaluators look for.

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Partnership Benefits

What Defence Primes Get from Maxwell & Higgs

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Supply Chain Resilience

Eliminate single-source risk with a sovereign supplier that has no foreign dependencies, no import constraints, and no geopolitical exposure.

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Rapid Response Capability

Same-city prototyping and production. From concept to first article in weeks, not months. No shipping delays, no customs clearance.

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Reduced Onboarding Risk

Pre-qualified quality systems, existing defence experience, and audit-ready processes mean you spend less time qualifying and more time delivering.

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Scalable Production

Flexible manufacturing capacity that scales with programme demand. From prototype quantities to sustained production runs without retooling delays.

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Audit-Ready Documentation

Complete traceability from raw material to delivered assembly. Inspection records, test certificates, and configuration management ready for your QA team.

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Through-Life Support

We support what we build. Spare parts, repairs, modifications, and obsolescence management for the full lifecycle of your platform.

Our Position

Where We Stand — Honestly

We believe transparent positioning builds stronger partnerships. Rather than overselling, we clearly articulate what we bring today and where we are investing to grow. This lets you make informed decisions about how we fit into your supply chain.

What We Bring Today

  • check_circle Nearly two decades of ruggedised fabrication and mechanical engineering, backed by leadership with 25+ years of industry experience
  • check_circle Proven D-Flector protection system with in-field validation
  • check_circle Full in-house capability: design, CNC, fabrication, assembly, and test
  • check_circle ISO 9001-aligned quality management system
  • check_circle Responsive, owner-operated business with direct access to decision-makers
  • check_circle Existing supply relationships with Australian steel and materials suppliers

What We Are Investing In

  • check_circle DISP membership application and facility security upgrades
  • check_circle AS9100D aerospace quality certification pathway
  • check_circle Expanded CNC and robotic welding capacity for higher volume production
  • check_circle Digital engineering tools including 3D scanning and simulation
  • check_circle Workforce development including veteran transition hiring programmes

Our Commitment

We do not overpromise. If a requirement falls outside our current capability, we will say so upfront rather than risk your programme timeline. We would rather win your trust on a small job and grow from there than overcommit on a large one.

Our goal is to become a reliable, long-term supply chain partner — not to chase one-off contracts. We invest in the relationships, certifications, and capabilities that make us genuinely useful to defence primes year after year.

Industry Engagement

  • check_circle Registered on ICN Gateway as a verified Australian supplier
  • check_circle Active profiles on major prime supplier portals
  • check_circle Member of AIDN (Australian Industry & Defence Network)
  • check_circle Exhibiting at Land Forces 2026
  • check_circle Listed on ODIS (Online Defence Industry Service)
Programme Alignment

Supporting Australia’s Defence Programmes

Domain Application M&H Capability Value to Programme
Land — Armoured Vehicle protection systems, hull fittings, mounting brackets Ruggedised fabrication, D-Flector systems, precision machining Sovereign protection IP, rapid prototyping, 100% local content
Land — Logistics Transport frames, storage systems, vehicle accessories Heavy fabrication, structural welding, modular assemblies Scalable production, short lead times, defence-grade quality
Land — Deployable Shelter components, portable infrastructure, field equipment Sheet metal, CNC machining, environmental sealing Field-proven durability, lightweight design, rapid iteration
Maritime — Patrol Deck fittings, structural brackets, equipment mounts Marine-grade fabrication, corrosion-resistant materials Australian sourcing, salt-spray tested, through-life support
Aerospace — GSE Ground support equipment, maintenance stands, tooling Precision fabrication, safety-critical assemblies Custom engineering, certified documentation, local support
All Domains — Sustainment Spare parts, repairs, obsolescence replacement, modifications Reverse engineering, small-batch production, fast turnaround Reduced downtime, sovereign supply security, cost-effective MRO

Test Us on a Pilot Project

Start with a small, low-risk engagement. We will earn your confidence with delivery before asking for more.

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