Saab Australia has established a dedicated test and integration capability for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class destroyer combat system upgrades, being undertaken from South Australia’s Osborne Naval Shipyard. The Hobart Australian Interface Reference Site recently opened at Saab’s Sovereign Combat Systems Collaboration Centre (SCSCC), based at Mawson Lakes in South Australia, enabling advanced integration and testing of combat system functionality prior to installation on the upgraded destroyers. The facility supports Saab’s delivery of the Australian Interface (AI), a key component of the Navy’s combat system architecture and a derivative of the Australian Combat Management System (AusCMS), which is designed, developed ...

Aurizn has achieved a significant milestone with the delivery of a secure communications capability for Hanwha Defence Australia, supporting the Commonwealth’s LAND 8116 Phase 1 program for the Huntsman family of vehicles. Working closely with Hanwha Defence Australia, Aurizn developed and integrated a secure communications system designed to protect sensitive information as it moves between different onboard networks. The system ensures that operational information can be shared without compromising security. The system was engineered and tested inside Aurizn’s ITAR‑Controlled Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) in South Australia. Representatives from Hanwha Defence Australia took part in acceptance testing, confirming the system’s performance ...

For commerce student Ben Scott, stepping into Defence SA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Internship Program gave him the hands-on experience, confidence and professional networks needed to launch into a meaningful career. Ben joined the program while completing his Bachelor of Commerce at Adelaide University, hoping to gain real‑world experience in accounting. What he discovered was a supportive environment where he could apply his studies, build new skills and explore career pathways he hadn’t previously considered. “The internship program has directly supported my studies. I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned, build connections and access valuable networking opportunities,” Ben ...

South Australia’s new $200 million Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility (DMMF) is set to be completed weeks ahead of schedule, marking a major milestone for the state’s defence sector. Construction of the multi‑hangar aircraft facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh will finish in early March, more than a month earlier than originally planned. Shaped by early concept work driven by Defence SA, the project has been led by Renewal SA and BESIX Watpac. Set to be delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, the facility will be handed over to Australia’s Department of Defence for final fit‑outs, before becoming operational mid‑year. ...

The Australian Government has pledged $3.9 billion towards delivery of the new Submarine Construction Yard in Osborne. Home of construction of Australia’s future SSN-AUKUS conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, projections show an estimated investment of $30 billion will be required over coming decades to build the yard, which will continue until the 2040s. This projected investment is comprised of: Area 1 - approximately $5 billion for fabrication Area 2 - approximately $8 billion for outfitting Area 3 - more than $15 billion for consolidation, testing, launching and commissioning. This is in addition to works that are already underway, including enabling ...

South Australia’s defence manufacturing industry has received a significant funding boost, with eight local companies securing a combined $2.84 million in the latest round of the Federal Government’s Defence Industry Development Grants (DIDG) program. The funding aims to strengthen and modernise Australia’s defence industrial capability across four streams; exports, skilling, security and sovereign industrial priorities. More than $17 million has been allocated to 44 Australian businesses in the latest rounds of the DIDG program. The grants will drive investment in advanced manufacturing aligned with sovereign defence priorities such as submarines, aerospace, guided weapons, explosive ordnance and advanced technologies. The funding ...

The first of Australia’s new MC-55A Peregrine intelligence aircraft has arrived at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia, further cementing the state’s role as a national hub for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. The aircraft is the first of four MC-55A to be delivered to the Royal Australia Air Force, with the entire fleet to be permanently based at Edinburgh and operated by No. 10 Squadron. As Australia’s inaugural airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (ISREW) aircraft, the MC-55A will strengthen Australia’s ability to monitor and protect its strategic interests. Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell said the ...

South Australian-based Shoal Group have joined forces with global nuclear engineering company Assystem to strengthen Australia’s nuclear submarine supply chain and advance sovereign capabilities in naval technologies and infrastructure. The collaboration brings together Shoal’s expertise in systems thinking, modelling, simulation and analysis – underpinned by their experience in Australia’s submarine industry – with Assystem’s global leadership in nuclear engineering and infrastructure delivery. Assystem is a leading engineering and project management partner to the defence sector, and its UK team will contribute expertise in complex, safety-critical and nuclear environments to Shoal’s technical work. Together, the companies will support local knowledge transfer ...

Australia’s submarine company, ASC, has partnered with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to help develop the skilled nuclear workforce needed to support the AUKUS submarine program. The two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create innovative career pathways for Australians in nuclear-related roles. This agreement focuses on building the specialist skills and expertise required for Australia’s future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The partnership is a key step in growing Australia’s sovereign nuclear capability and supports the long-term delivery of the SSN-AUKUS program. It will open opportunities for health physicists and nuclear operators, roles essential ...

South Australian-based companies Swordfish Computing and Space Machines Company were amongst 14 Australian organisations to sign new contracts under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program. Announced on 5 January, ASCA is investing almost $40 million to strengthen Decision Advantage capability across Defence domains such as air, land, space, maritime and cyber. The technologies funded via these contracts will help the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to make better decisions with speed and accuracy, faster than potential adversaries. Swordfish Computing will receive over $3 million, and Lot Fourteen TechCentral tenants Space Machines Company is set to ...

South Australian-based company Nova Systems has joined forces with Australian-owned defence and nuclear specialist Nucleate to support the development of sovereign capability for Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines. The partnership combines Nova Systems’ expertise in systems integration and complex Defence systems and assurance, with Nucleate’s specialist nuclear knowledge and technical capability. Together, the companies will develop the necessary technical processes and assurance frameworks essential for informed, sovereign decision-making. Nova Systems Managing Director of Systems Integration Mark Slade said the collaboration reflects the importance of Australian-led partnerships in delivering the next phase of AUKUS. “To take the AUKUS agreement to the next ...