The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will receive heavy-duty Dura-Base mats to enhance construction of temporary pavements in austere environments. The matting will be used as an alternative to AM2 aluminium matting, which has been used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) since the 1960s.
Babcock Australasia announced in April that it will supply hundreds of the high-density polyethylene composite mats – which can interlock to form a stable surface –to the ADF by mid-2025, which can be installed with minimal preparation for use as a taxiway, apron or hardstand.
The mats will be delivered in collaboration with Babcock’s partner JWA Composite Matting.
“Successfully partnering with our supply chain is paramount to delivering practical, theatre-ready products and services that ensure the safety and effectiveness of the defence forces we proudly serve,” said Babcock Australasia Managing Director Mission & Support Systems Richard Udall.
“By fostering a collaborative relationship with JWA and leveraging its cutting-edge technologies, we are able to equip our forces with the most advanced and reliable solutions to meet the ever-evolving challenges they face in the field,” added Udall, noting that the Dura-Base matting will enhance the ADF’s ability to deploy quickly.
The RAAF earlier conducted trials of the Dura-Base matting in 2024, where it constructed a 2,000-square-metre apron RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory constructed in just days. According to Babcock, the two-week trial was conducted by members of the 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron along with personnel from US Air Force airbase recovery and engineering squadrons.
The temporary apron successfully recovered a 75 Squadron-operated F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.
“Dura-Base consistently performs well in various scenarios and can be rapidly deployed under challenging conditions. Typically, a team of three can install up to 900-square-metres per day, making it ideal for time-sensitive projects and temporary deployments,” said JWA Composite Matting Sales and Marketing Manager Warren Pickering.
by Jr Ng
