Recruiting workers from other industries will be key to meeting future defence workforce requirements, Saab Australia says. Major naval shipbuilding projects will create up to 5000 jobs in South Australia by 2030, along with thousands of additional jobs across other projects in cyber and systems solutions and intelligence. Saab maritime general manager Dave Symonds says project delivery will rely on recruiting existing workers from other sectors, in addition to strong graduate intakes. “We are starting to become quite active in transitioning people from other allied industries,” he says. “When the automotive industry ramped down a bit, we took on a ...

A new training course will equip Defence personnel, engineers and technicians with the skills and knowledge to support military Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) operations. Offered by the School of Information Operations (SOIO), the three-day course is the first of its kind in Australia and will help meet the growing need for members of the Australian Defence Force and defence industry to be skilled in UAS capabilities. The Australian Army currently uses a significant number of UAS platforms, most of which support intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance to support land force operations. SOIO Chief Executive Officer Glenn Murray said ...

South Australian defence businesses can now access a range of free tools and services to help boost their cyber security, with the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre recently launching a cybersecurity toolkit in collaboration with the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA). The online toolkit provides tools and programs that help Australian small to medium businesses safeguard accounts, prevent phishing and malware, conduct system backups and data recovery, and protect email domains and company reputation. The toolkit is the first major achievement resulting from the recent partnership, with the two organisations also exploring other initiatives. Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre Interim Chief Executive Officer ...

Leading defence and aviation business, Babcock Australasia, is calling for applications for the next intake of its Graduate Program, with positions available across a wide range of fields. The two-year program offers participants the opportunity to apply their technical skills and training in a practical environment, alongside an established team of industry professionals. Positions are available for people who have studied Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics and Electronics. The program isn’t limited to STEM graduates though, with roles also available in project management, finance, marketing, human resources and IT. Babcock Executive Director Engineering & Technology Brad Yelland said ...

Opportunities for local industry to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) projects and capability development will be in the spotlight at the SA Aerospace and Information Warfare Forum next month. The SA Aerospace and Information Warfare Forum (SAAIWF) will be held on 22 June at the Adelaide Convention Centre, bringing together South Australian industry, academia and government to focus on developments in the state’s aerospace and information warfare sector. A preliminary program has now been released, with a focus on educating the aerospace and information warfare sectors on projects that are delivering significant capability upgrades to the ADF. A list of ...

Two South Australian companies have been selected to support the Hunter Class frigate program by participating in BAE Systems Australia’s new digital supply chain model. Century Engineering and MG Engineering will form part of BAE’s strategic supplier panel and help digitise the supply chain to deliver an advanced integrated manufacturing capability for the frigate program. As part of the initiative, the companies will supply components, including bulkheads, beams, brackets, transportable sub-assemblies and a station platform, whilst piloting digitally focused integration methods, processes and technologies. The approach has been adopted from other industries, such as car manufacturing, which is characterised by a ...

Not so long ago, any mention of Adelaide at an international expo in the USA or Europe would likely have been met with more than a few blank stares. Now, with billions being invested by State and Federal governments, South Australia’s capital is emerging as a bright light in the global constellation of defence and space economies. However, that doesn’t automatically translate into an inrush of companies willing to spend, employ and expand. Having spent much of his career working for large corporates in Australia and overseas, Defence SA Chief Executive Richard Price knew it isn’t just a case of ...

In an age of big data, artificial intelligence, increasing surveillance requirements, cyber security, electronic warfare supporting emerging technologies and capabilities, South Australia is leading the way in strengthening the country’s information warfare capabilities and ensuring a smarter, more integrated Australian Defence Force (ADF).   South Australia’s Edinburgh Defence Precinct is at the heart of this activity, as the national defence research, manufacturing and sustainment hub, housing RAAF Base Edinburgh, the Defence Science and Technology Group’s (DSTG) largest Australian operations and a thriving cluster of defence companies and expertise. Over the past decade, the precinct has become a major intelligence, surveillance ...

The 2022 International Maritime Exposition Indo Pacific event, held in Sydney from 10-12 May, delivered a record turnout in its 20-year history. With more than 25,000 visitors attending across the three days and 736 participating exhibitor companies, the event provided unheralded opportunities for engagement across the maritime sector. Exhibitor numbers represented a 12 per cent increase from 2019, making it the largest number of participating companies in the history of events by organisers AMDA Foundation. The event saw 115 official defence, industry, academic and government delegations with more than 40 nations represented, including 39 Chief of Navy Counterparts or their ...

South Australia’s fast-growing defence industry is becoming a leading force in delivering our national defence industry capability, with exciting career opportunities attracting some of the nation’s brightest talent. As a young female engineer wanting to work on innovative and cutting-edge technology, Jessica Sharp was excited about the prospect of moving to South Australia to pursue a career in the state’s thriving defence industry sector. After completing a mechatronics engineering degree at the University of Wollongong and a short placement at Lockheed Martin Australia’s Canberra headquarters, Jessica was offered a position in the company’s award-winning Graduate Development Program in South Australia. The ...

ASC has awarded Australian engineering business Eptec Group a $66 million contract to carry out blast and paint services during Collins Class Full Cycle Dockings. Part of a six-year agreement, the contract will support more than 100 local jobs, with work to be carried out at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. The contract involves providing blast services to clean components and systems within the Collins class submarines to ensure effective ongoing operation, painting services including anti-corrosion protection for the submarine hulls and internal structures as well as internal paintwork to refresh onboard living areas. ASC Chief Executive Officer Stuart Whiley said ...

PRP Manufacturing, an SA based engineering firm, was recently awarded a Defence Global Competitiveness grant to increase capability and capacity to supply defence-related work to the global market. The grant has enabled PRP to purchase and commission an advanced 5-axis flatbed CNC workstation. The equipment, due to arrive in September, will assist with current defence contracts, including the recently awarded gasket contract for BAE Systems Australia’s Hunter Class Frigate Program, and also extend capability in specialised component manufacturing for global customers. PRP Manufacturing Chief Operating Officer Luke Sernecki is thrilled with the outcome. “The grant has been a fantastic reward ...