South Australia is a major location for the nation's defence industry.
On this page:
OverviewMajor projects
Defence precincts Industry groups Overview
For more than 20 years South Australian firms have won and delivered on the nation's most complex and dynamic defence projects. South Australia is home to major operations of some leading global defence companies, including:
- ASC
- BAE Systems Australia
- Cobham
- General Dynamics Land Systems
- Lockheed Martin
- Raytheon Australia
- Saab Technologies Australia.
They are supported by more than 200 innovative small-to-medium-sized businesses delivering specialist services and products to the Australian Defence Force and other defence forces around the world.
Key capability areas include:
- naval shipbuilding and submarine support
- systems integration
- electronic warfare
- land force enhancement
- intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance
- defence research and development.
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Major projects
In the past five years, South Australia has secured billions of dollars worth of new defence and security projects. Many of these are just coming online. They will provide significant opportunities for local defence suppliers for some years. These projects include:
- the $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer build contract and AWD Systems Centre
- relocating the 1,100 personnel of the 7RAR Mechanised Battalion to the Edinburgh Defence Precinct - 600 members already operate out of the facility
- the multi-billion-dollar 25-year through-life support contract for Collins class submarines
- the $1 billion AP-3C Orion aircraft maintenance and upgrade contract
- the $1 billion Customs Project Sentinel contract – the world’s largest fixed-wing civil maritime surveillance program
- the $300 million development of Techport Australia, Australia's Naval Industry Hub.
The recent announcement that the 12 next-generation submarines will be assembled in Adelaide is a major win for South Australia.
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Defence precincts
South Australia has established three distinct defence precincts: Techport Australia, Technology Park Adelaide and Edinburgh Defence Precinct.
Techport Australia
Techport Australia is Australia’s premier naval industry hub. It is focused on naval shipbuilding, systems and sustainment industries. Tenants include ASC Pty Ltd, the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance and Raytheon Australia.
Techport's giant shiplift - the largest in the southern hemisphere - is capable of lifting 9,300-tonne ships into and out of the water.
Techport Australia is helping contractor ASC to deliver the Royal Australian Navy's next generation of air warfare destroyers, but is also a commercial facility available to other shipbuilding and maintenance businesses.
Technology Park Adelaide
Technology Park Adelaide is an electronics and defence systems development and integration hub located at Mawson Lakes. Tenants include Saab Systems, BAE Systems, Raytheon Australia, CSC and Daronmont Technologies.
Edinburgh Defence Precinct
Focused on defence research, manufacturing and sustainment in the land and aerospace environments, Edinburgh Defence Precinct incorporates the State’s major Defence facilities – the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, RAAF Base Edinburgh and, from 2011, Army’s 7RAR Mechanised Battalion.
Tenants include Australian Aerospace, Nova Defence, Lockheed Martin and the headquarters of BAE Systems Australia – by far Australia’s largest defence firm.
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Industry groups
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More information
Other websites
Defence in South Australia - Defence SA
Major defence industry projects - Defence SA
Invest Northern Adelaide - City of Playford, City of Salisbury, City of Tea Tree Gully