From 2026, Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen innovation precinct will become home to the Australian Defence Technologies Academy – a cutting-edge facility providing digital training, education and research capabilities to the defence industry, while aligning to other sectors such as space and cyber. The Academy aims to develop defence capabilities, drive sovereign research and strengthen skills in South Australia. The announcement is underpinned by a $60 million joint investment from the federal and South Australian governments. “My government is not hesitating in rapidly skilling-up the next generation to deliver the most complex machines that have been built in human history,” said South ...

Consultancy firm Coras has established a strong local presence since touching down at South Australia’s Defence and Space Landing Pad in 2022. The South Australian team which started as four employees, has now grown to six, and forms part of a broader workforce of 65 staff based in Sydney and Canberra. Described as a ‘management consultancy with a difference’, Coras’ roots in the Defence industry run deep. The company was founded in 2015 by three Navy veterans and its multi-generational workforce ranges from former veterans (40%) to young, emerging talent. When it came time to expand, Coras set its sights ...

Boeing Defence Australia has been awarded a $139.5 million contract to upgrade the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) fleet of P-8A Poseidon aircraft, which will create a myriad of new jobs in South Australia. Fifty new highly skilled defence industry jobs including six Certificate IV aircraft maintenance engineering apprentices, 38 Certificate II aerospace workers and several supply chain trainees will soon be added to Boeing’s 283-strong workforce currently employed at the RAAF Base in Edinburgh, South Australia. These personnel currently deliver maintenance services for the RAAF’s P-8A Poseidon fleet. The first P-8A aircraft entered service almost 10 years ago under an ...

The Heights Technical College in Adelaide will add aero skills specialisation to its list of key pathways for students when it first opens its doors in 2026. The announcement paves the way for students in years 10 to 12 to get to grips with the evolving demands of the defence sector, equipping them with essential workplace skills to strengthen pathways from school to employment. It will also help meet the workforce demands that are being experienced to support defence aircraft maintenance requirements. The aero skills focus addresses the pressing issue of limited vocational pathways to aero skills qualifications in South ...

Affirming its commitment to South Australia’s growing defence industry, Kongsberg Defence Australia has fast-tracked the development of its $25 million facility at Technology Park in Mawson Lakes. Originally earmarked for completion over a three-year period, an influx in demand for current and future business opportunities has seen Kongsberg and local developer Tandem Building Group doubling down to complete the 2500m2 manufacturing and office facility by June 2024. This is the first Asia-Pacific standalone facility for the local subsidiary of Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace and is located on 6000m2 of land purchased from Renewal SA in 2022 to support ...

Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Cath Roberts AO CSC has been appointed to the Defence SA Advisory Board. Ms Roberts had a decorated career of more than 40 years in the Royal Australian Air Force as an Aerospace Engineer. She joins the Defence SA Advisory Board with extensive experience and knowledge in space capability analysis, project management, governance, airworthiness and safety, contracting, diplomatic postings and networking across Defence, Government, industry and academia. Ms Roberts has had postings as Head Aerospace Systems Division, Head of Air Force Capability and was the inaugural Commander of Defence Space Command responsible for consolidating space capabilities across ...

The Australian Government has announced the selection of ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems as Australia’s Sovereign Submarine Build Partner with the build taking place at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The announcement marks a critical step forward in the program, which represents the single biggest capability acquisition in Australia’s history. The selection of these two world-leading companies, with 95 years of combined experience, demonstrates their unrivalled capability, with ASC responsible for the build and sustainment of the existing Collins class submarines in Adelaide while BAE Systems is the UK’s long-term nuclear-powered submarine design and build partner. ASC ...

The South Australian Government and the United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, signalling the start of a co-operative working agreement in strategic areas of mutual interest, which includes defence and space. The MoU was signed in Adelaide by UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Lord David Cameron and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. It aims to facilitate commercial, cultural, educational and research, and development collaboration. Key focus areas for closer co-operation are defence workforce development and skills capability, critical technologies, creative industries and space. In addition, both jurisdictions have agreed to work together to ...

A new Defence Trailblazer project will see technology giant Cisco and the University of Adelaide join forces to develop state-of-the-art technologies for secure military platforms. The project is led by Associate Professor Hung Nguyen from the University of Adelaide. Professor Nguyen is also the Information Warfare and Advanced Cyber co-lead for the Defence Trailblazer, stationed at the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C) in Lot Fourteen. “My research will apply new advanced algorithms and mathematical models to solve problems in platform security,” said Professor Nguyen. “We focus on developing provable cyber defensive solutions. This means building and configuring systems that are ...

The long-anticipated review into the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet requirements has seen South Australia retain its position as the home of major surface combatants under a continuous shipbuilding plan. At a press conference on Tuesday 20 February Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles confirmed that while the number of Hunter class frigates would be reduced from nine to six, the build of the replacement vessel for the Hobart class destroyer will immediately follow at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. In line with the recommendations of the review, the Navy’s future surface combatant fleet will be larger and more lethal comprising of ...

Applications are now open to nominate young achievers making waves in South Australia’s defence industry. Now in its 18th year, the Australian Defence Industry Network (AIDN) Young Achiever Award recognises upcoming defence industry leaders making an impact through leadership, technical ability and industry achievements. Each year, the award is held at a state level with winners moving on to compete for the National Award title. Defence SA will once again back South Australia’s future leaders as a proud sponsor of the South Australian AIDN Young Achiever Award which last year went to Aurizn Associate Research Scientist, Jonathan Hedger. Acting Chief ...