CANBERRA, Australia, June 15 (UPI) -- Government and industry are working together in Australia to improve combat protection gear worn by Australian military personnel.

Australian Minister for Defense Stephen Smith and Minister for Defense Materiel Jason Clare announced this week the government would contribute more than $9.5 million toward research for the protection of soldiers, while private industry was providing about $11.7 million in funding and in-kind contributions for the project.

The project aims to develop, test and evaluate prototypes of new equipment in order to improve ballistic, blast and flash protection; improve head, face and eye protection; decrease weight and bulk of protective systems; reduce blunt trauma that can occur behind armor; reduce the risk of a soldier being detected; and improve protection from fire, chemical, biological and radiological threats.

The Defense Materials Technology Center will lead the team with support from research organizations such as the University of Wollongong and RMIT University.

The officials said confirmed and likely industry partners include Australian Defense Apparel, Ballistic and Mechanical Testing, Bruck Textiles, Tectonica, Pacific Engineering Systems International and the Victorian Center for Advanced Materials Manufacturing.

The research team will also work with the army's specialist team of soldiers who have recently returned from Afghanistan.