BAE Systems Australia has unveiled plans for a $25 million upgrade to its Edinburgh Parks Defence Precinct, in a move that will strengthen South Australia’s advanced manufacturing and defence capability.

The major upgrade is set to include a new Security Operations Centre to support AUKUS and Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) programs, as well as machining facilities to boost missile production for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) program.

Located in Adelaide’s north, the Precinct is a critical hub for defence advanced manufacturing, research, development and sustainment. This investment will significantly enhance the Precinct, which is part of a broader network of 22 innovation places in South Australia, identified by the South Australian Government to support economic growth, investment and strategic collaboration.

BAE Systems’ support for Innovation Places reflects its enduring commitment to a strong partnership with the state government to deliver economic development and sustainability in South Australia.

Bringing its headquarters, and approximately 500 employees, to Lot Fourteen as a cornerstone tenant in future build, Innovation Centre, positions BAE Systems at the centre of South Australia’s defence and critical technologies innovation, with greater connectivity to its operations and partnerships at Osborne Naval Shipyard and Edinburgh Defence Precinct, Tonsley Innovation District and Findon Technical College.

The upgrades come as BAE Systems expands its role in major defence projects, including the enhanced production of components for the ESSM program and the ramp-up of passive radio frequency sensor manufacturing for joint strike missiles.

The company is also delivering world-leading over-the-horizon radar capability, now attracting interest from key Five Eyes partners, including Canada and the US.

BAE Systems Australia CEO Craig Lockhart said investment in the Precinct will enable local industry to play a major role in strengthening Australia and key allies’ defence capabilities.

“Defence industry is focused on building next generation capability platforms here in South Australia and is leading a national industrial effort to support the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Lockhart said.

“At Edinburgh Parks, we offer our employees well paid jobs to create, design, develop and build sophisticated subsystems for enduring sovereign capabilities that are critical to our national security.

“And these sites are surrounded by a network of trusted industry suppliers, many of them new to the Defence sector, who only increase industry resilience as they build and sustain naval, army or air force capability for the ADF.

“That is why investing in Edinburgh Parks facility will ensure BAE Systems remains at the forefront of technology development and manufacturing activity.”

Major facility enhancements also include:

• A fully upgraded, classified two-storey office block with Hardware Integration Facilities
• New entrance facility, with plans to produce a carbon net zero facility in collaboration with the University of South Australia and Government
• Facilities to support electronic warfare and other major Royal Australian Airforce contracts
• Upgrades to IT facilities

The development will create a more secure and collaborative workplace for the nearly 1000 engineers and specialists currently employed at the site, located adjacent to Defence Science and Technology Group and RAAF Base Edinburgh.