South Australia’s defence industry has received another major boost, with Ultra Maritime at Mawson Lakes selected to deliver a cutting-edge torpedo defence system for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter class frigates. BAE Systems Maritime Australia has awarded Ultra Maritime the contract to supply its Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system, a world-leading capability designed to protect warships from underwater threats. Each Hunter class frigate will be equipped with the SSTD system, which combines advanced acoustic detection and integrated countermeasures. Using a sonar and two decoy methods, the system not only detects incoming torpedoes but also advises crews on tactics, such ...

South Australian company APC Technology has joined forces with UK media organisation and military charity BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) to deliver broadcast, media and welfare technology solutions to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and others working in remote environments. The collaboration will see BFBS’s MiPlayer and MiPlayer Edge systems – secure, offline-ready content delivery platforms for entertainment, training and wellbeing content – deployed in disconnected environments, such as ships at sea, deployed bases and isolated industrial and mining sites throughout Australasia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The system provides access to content including television and video on demand, radio ...

South Australian submarine battery manufacturer, PMB Defence, is partnering with BAE Systems United Kingdom in a deal that may see their technology used in the SSN-AUKUS submarine design. The contracts between PMB and BAE Systems – valued at more than $34 million – will enable the potential integration of its advanced nickel zinc battery technology into the design of the future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. This contract is in addition to existing work being undertaken by PMB with the UK Ministry of Defence to test and qualify its battery technology for the UK’s Astute class submarines. Nuclear-powered submarines generate the ...

SAGE Group has officially launched a new Advanced Manufacturing Centre at Tonsley Innovation District in South Australia, boosting the company’s production of mission-critical systems for the Australian Defence Force and AUKUS-aligned programs. The facility includes 1,750m² of manufacturing space, along with engineering and support offices, accommodating up to 100 highly skilled employees. It will double SAGE’s production output and support its trajectory toward a $500 million turnover, enabling scalable manufacturing and enhanced capability uplift for defence programs. SAGE Group Managing Director Adrian Fahey said the expansion will accelerate production to meet growing domestic and international demand, including for future AUKUS ...

South Australia is set to reaffirm its reputation as the Defence State with more than 65 exhibitors featured on the Defence SA stand at November’s Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney. Riding off the success of the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event in London in September, attended by more than 50 South Australian companies, the state’s robust defence industry presence at Indo Pac will again demonstrate its readiness to support both Pillar I and II of the AUKUS agreement, along with other maritime projects. “While South Australia is widely recognised for our role in delivering nuclear-powered submarines ...

South Australia’s defence and advanced manufacturing sectors have received a major boost with US aerospace company Life Support International (LSI) opening its first facility outside the United States in Adelaide. Located in Elizabeth South, the new service centre will maintain life-saving equipment used on maritime patrol aircraft, including the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon fleet based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. LSI’s flagship product, the UNI-PAC III, is a 20-person life raft deployed from the aircraft’s bomb bay, which previously had to be shipped back to the US for servicing. With the new Adelaide facility, maintenance will now be ...

South Australian advanced manufacturer AML3D has secured a major contract to supply custom metal 3D printing systems to Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII – the largest shipbuilder in the United States. Under the $4.5 million deal, AML3D will deliver two large-scale ARCEMY® systems to NNS, expanding the use of the company’s technology within the US Navy’s industrial base. The systems are scheduled to be installed and operational mid-2026, marking the ninth and tenth ARCEMY® systems delivered to support US Navy supply-chain modernisation. AML3D CEO Sean Ebert said the latest order underscores the company’s growing role in US ...

The South Australian-based School of Information Operations (SOIO) is set to expand its defence training services in Europe, following the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between Poland-based radar and electronic warfare provider XY-Sensing and Swedish defence consultancy Westberi AB. The new international partnership will enhance defence capability across Europe and Australia, with the three organisations intending to collaborate on defence technology, sensor systems and military training solutions. The LOI outlines a shared commitment to joint research and development, co-marketing, technology integration and product distribution, with a primary focus on Europe and Australia, and potential expansion into the broader ...

Saab Australia (Saab) has secured a three-year contract extension with the Commonwealth of Australia to continue supporting the Australian Army’s Lightweight Multi-Mode Radar (LMMR) system, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the nation’s radar capabilities. Under the renewed contract, Saab will deliver comprehensive support services including engineering, maintenance, logistics, storage and distribution from its South Australian operations hub at Cavan, in collaboration with equipment manufacturer, SRCTec. The AN/TPQ-49 LMMR, which Saab has supported since 2015, provides short-range protection against indirect fire and airborne threats. This capability plays a vital role in safeguarding critical assets and enhancing the Army’s ground-based air defence ...

The Defence SA Advisory Board has welcomed former Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO DSC MVO (Retd) as its new Chair. Burr, who joined the Board in October 2024, replaces highly respected Vice Admiral Russ Crane AO CSM RAN (Retd), who has stepped down after 14 years of distinguished service, including as chair. His tenure and expertise have made a pivotal contribution to the state’s defence landscape. Bringing decades of strategic and operational experience to the role of Chair, Burr said he was honoured to lead the Board at such a pivotal time in the state’s ...

South Australia captured global attention at September’s Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) in London, proving once again that the state's defence industry is punching far above its weight on the world stage. With more than 60 local companies at the event, the state showcased the full spectrum of its capabilities, from advanced undersea technology to world-class manufacturing, backed by a highly skilled workforce ready to play a lead role in the AUKUS partnership. The buzz among industry started even before the exhibition opened with Defence SA leading a high-powered trade mission to the UK, taking along 18 South Australian ...

In a major boost to the state’s defence and space capabilities, South Australian family-owned company REDARC has announced the completion of the first stage of its $50 million defence and space facility. Construction of REDARC’s Defence and Space Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub at Lonsdale is expected to create up to 200 highly skilled jobs by 2032. REDARC also unveiled final plans for the next stage of the development. Once complete, the two-storey, hi-tech hub will support the company’s planned expansion by boosting its capacity to design, manufacture and deliver mission-critical systems for the Australian Defence Force as well as ...