Defence SA has announced the appointment of Ian Spencer as Executive Director Defence and Industry, effective 21 August 2024. Ian’s distinguished career spans nearly four decades in Defence, electronic warfare and space, having held senior leadership roles across the public, private and not-for profit sectors. In his new role, Ian will be responsible for the leadership and implementation of initiatives across all domains directly aligned to the state’s defence and space sector strategies. Announcing the appointment, Defence SA Chief Executive Matt Opie said he was pleased to welcome Ian on board. “Ian joins us with extensive knowledge of the industry ...

Sixteen Adelaide-based trainee aerospace workers have joined Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) to support the P-8A Poseidon Through Life Support program. The trainees are currently undertaking in a six-month Certificate II in Aeroskills with South Australian-based based Flight One School of Engineering. After completing the Certificate, they will transition into on-the-job training before supporting the P-8A Increment 3 Block 2 software, systems and sensor upgrades on 12 RAAF fleet P-8A aircraft. The cohort marks the largest single intake by the company and the start of a two-year recruitment drive that will support the $139.5 million contract awarded to BDA to upgrade ...

A new agreement between the Australian Government and ASC aims to create more than 700 direct jobs in South Australia and 400 direct jobs in Western Australia. Totalling more than $2.2 billion, the four-year Collins class submarine sustainment contract forms part of the larger $4 to $5 billion Government commitment to keeping the Collins class submarines as a potent strike and deterrence capability. The agreement secures the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia and Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia as centres of excellence for the sustainment of Collins class submarines. It also follows the announcement of an additional 500 South ...

Swedish manufacturer MCT Brattberg is strengthening its foothold in South Australia. The company initially set up its base at the Defence Space and Landing Pad in Adelaide in 2023 and has since gone on to secure a contract for the Hunter class frigate program establishing a permanent presence at Lot Fourteen. With a long-standing history dating back to 1759, MCT Brattberg is best-known for the MCT Brattberg System – a modular multi-cable and pipe transit commonly used by the shipyard and construction industries. Fast-forward to 2024 and MCT Brattberg will bring a plethora of experience to the Hunter Class program, ...

South Australian-based Hendon Semiconductors (HSC) is the latest company to be awarded a grant through the State Government’s $122 million Economic Recovery Fund. The specialist electronic design and manufacturing company was recently awarded $605,561 through the fund, that will be matched by HSC, bringing the total investment to $1,227,522. The funds will be used to upgrade facilities and equipment through the introduction of a sterilisation chamber, Class 10k Clean room, Chip on Board (COB) and the acquisition of a new spectrum analyser that will improve testing capability for high frequency RF systems. This enhanced capability has applications across the defence ...

DEWC Services, a leader in C4ISREW capabilities, is developing the next generation of cloud-native specialists to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) use of innovative cloud technology. As military operations become increasingly data-driven, timely access to information and applications is critical for the ADF. Cloud computing provides the scale to manage large volumes of data while enabling greater collaboration between Defence and its strategic partners. DEWC Services has been working closely with key Defence stakeholders to develop cloud-native software and unlock the benefits of cloud technology. DEWC Services Chief Information Officer, Troy Boswell, said cloud services will enhance work involving ...

Adelaide-based Rhiannon Reynolds from Aurecon has been announced as the 2024 Australian Defence Industry Network SA (AIDN-SA) Young Achiever Award winner. Now in its 18th year, the Young Achiever Award recognises upcoming defence industry leaders making an impact through leadership, technical ability and industry achievements. Five young leaders were nominated for the award, all demonstrating passion and dedication to the defence industry, with Rhiannon Reynolds awarded the honour for her work as an Associate, Program Performance at Aurecon. In her multifaceted role spanning more than eight years, Ms Reynolds leads major Capital Facilities and Infrastructure projects for the Department of Defence in both South ...

Adelaide-based passive radar company Silentium Defence has successfully handed over the first tranche of sensor systems for Australia’s Joint Air Battle Management System, AIR6500. Delivered to Lockheed Martin, MAVERICK passive radar systems are designed to support the tracking of targets with higher fidelity and greater accuracy for cross-cuing of complementary sensors and effectors. Deployed as a compact, cabin-based solution, the system can be operated either independently as a stand-alone-asset or networked into a common operating picture. The announcement marks another win for South Australia’s ever-expanding defence capability as a locally designed and built project, supported through South Australian employees, IP ...

Chief Executive of Defence SA Matt Opie accompanied South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas on a recent trip to the US. With the trilateral AUKUS partnership at the forefront of both US and Australian defence industry capability planning, the visit looked to strengthen ties between the US and South Australia. As the home of the SSN-AUKUS build at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, key discussions with US counterparts provided deeper insights into the workforce and skills required for South Australia to deliver the SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines, while affirming the many opportunities that exist through the AUKUS supply chain. Mr Opie said that ...

Construction has commenced on the first Hunter Class Frigate at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide. The momentous occasion was marked by the cutting of the first piece of steel by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas on 21 June. The announcement underpins the Australian Government’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding in South Australia and the promise to enhance Navy’s undersea warfare and strike capability. The construction phase contract for the first three Hunter Class Frigates was signed by Defence and BAE Systems Australia, with the first warship earmarked for operation in 2034. Construction ...

Adelaide’s world-class innovation district, Lot Fourteen has welcomed engineering, construction and project management company Bechtel as tenants. Working alongside other high calibre companies based at Lot Fourteen, Bechtel brings over a century’s worth of experience in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing & technology, mining and metals, nuclear, security and environmental markets. Lot Fourteen State Project Lead, Di Dixon reinforced the importance of presence of companies like Bechtel to help achieve South Australia’s ambitions. “Bechtel’s arrival at Lot Fourteen is another step towards building our state’s capabilities required to meet future infrastructure needs,” said Ms Dixon. With a vast range of exciting opportunities ...

South Australian manufacturers REDARC Defence & Space, entX and AML3D have been awarded financial assistance of more than $4 million to support key defence projects through the Economic Recovery Fund (ERF). The State Government fund was established in 2023 to boost the state’s economy and to help local businesses and industry in key areas to grow secure, well-paid jobs, improve productivity, increase exports and support innovative, value adding technologies. Aimed at the priority areas of Manufacturing Innovation and Regional Tourism Infrastructure Development, Round 1 of the ERF saw nearly 300 applications across both streams. The State Government allocated $14.8 million ...