In December 2025, Accredited Test Services (ATS) marked a key milestone: 60 years of continuous NATA accreditation.
Located within Defence’s Land Engineering Agency (LEA) at Monegeetta, Victoria, approximately 54 kilometres north of Melbourne, the Monegeetta Proving Ground has a long and distinguished history. Used as far back as World War II for testing military vehicles and equipment, the site has evolved to meet the complex and changing demands of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
A Legacy of Accredited Testing
Over the past six decades, ATS has developed key capabilities in testing, calibration, and prototype development. It provides specialist engineering support across a wide range of defence equipment, from vehicles and communications systems to electro-optical, mechanical, and environmental performance testing.
Its ISO 9001 quality certification and ISO/IEC 17025 (2017) NATA accreditation cover test areas including sound and vibration measurement, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) immunity for military systems, and the evaluation of environmental durability under extreme conditions.
Consisting of five laboratories – the Automotive Performance Laboratory, Data Acquisition and Analysis Laboratory, Electronics & Communications Laboratory, Enclosed Light Armaments Facility, and Mechanical Environmental Laboratory, ATS delivers a broad scope of accredited testing within Defence.
Testing That Pushes Limits
From weapons and surveillance systems to vehicles, clothing and communications equipment, ATS conducts punishing tests exposing equipment to extreme conditions. These tests not only assess performance and reliability, but also drive innovation, revealing opportunities for improvement in night-fighting technology, combat systems accuracy, and vehicle protection.
In its 60 years of accredited operation, millions of rounds have been fired, hundreds of vehicles tested to destruction, and countless systems refined. Every test conducted under their ISO/IEC 17025 NATA accreditation ensures confidence in the data that contributes directly to the performance, safety, and survivability of the Australian warfighter.
A Culture Built on Quality
Quality and reliability are central to ATS’s culture. A robust Quality Management System, built to NATA standards, ensures every process is traceable, defensible, and continuously improved. Internal audits, peer reviews, and professional development are core to its operations.
This commitment to quality has made ATS a benchmark for best practice within Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Land Systems Division.
A Partnership that Protects Australia’s Future
Through its commitment to accredited excellence, ATS has demonstrated how rigorous standards and continuous improvement translate into real-world Defence capability. Its six-decade partnership with NATA reflects a shared pursuit of technical trust, innovation, and national service.
As ATS celebrates 60 years of accreditation, it highlights the enduring collaboration between NATA and its accredited organisations, and this strengthens Australia’s defence readiness and shapes a safer, more capable future.
