Defence industries is a joint collaboration between Department for Trade and Investment and Defence SA.

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• Australia's defence state
• Delivering the largest defence projects
• Supplying the world with advanced products
• Information and cyber
• Collaboration is in our DNA
• In good company
• It's all happening in South Australia
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If you are interested in participating in DTI’s planned trade mission to DSEI Japan in May 2021, email us at dtti.missions@sa.gov.au

Australia’s defence state

South Australia - The Defence State is the nation’s centre for defence industry. Through innovation, world-class research and development and a highly-skilled workforce, the state’s defence industry has a long and proud history of delivering some of Australia’s largest and most complex projects.

We're the centre of defence technology and research in Australia, with capabilities across strategic intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare.

There is significant investment in our state’s precincts and facilities with over $3bn in new infrastructure and upgrades to existing facilities in the pipeline.

Delivering the largest defence projects

With more than $90bn worth of naval shipbuilding projects underway, the state is also the hub of Australia’s information warfare capability and research and development activity across all defence sectors

Supplying the world with advanced products

For decades, South Australian companies have been winning and delivering the nation’s most complex and dynamic defence projects. In addition to large defence primes, South Australia has a strong core of small to medium sized enterprises actively delivering specialist services and products to the Australian Defence Force and other defence customers around the world.

Information and cyber

Australia’s strategic intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare (ISREW) capabilities are centred in South Australia. This includes the headquarters of the Cyber and Electronic Warfare division of the Defence Science and Technology Group.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Edinburgh is home to the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, Triton and Reaper unmanned aerial systems, special purpose EW aircraft, the Jindalee Operational Radar Network and space surveillance systems. Integrating electronic warfare, cyber, intelligence, targeting and weapons systems testing is critical to Australian Defence Force capabilities and allows for increased knowledge sharing with allied Air Warfare Centres.

Collaboration is in our DNA

Lot Fourteen

Including the Australian Institute for Machine Learning and home to the Australian Space Agency, the nation’s first innovation neighbourhood is attracting brilliant minds from around the globe.

Nurturing highly skilled talent in key industries like artificial intelligence, cyber security, robotics, creative technologies, defence and space, Lot Fourteen is also home to the Defence and Space Landing Pad which provides support to international companies looking to establish in South Australia to explore opportunities in the state’s thriving defence and space sectors.

Osborne Naval Shipyard

The nation’s premier naval industry hub is the logical location for any company pursuing opportunities in defence or commercial shipbuilding and ship sustainment projects.

Home to the Collins class submarine sustainment and the recently completed Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyers, the Osborne Naval Shipyard is also the build location for the nation’s Attack class submarine program, the Hunter class frigate program and the commencement of the Arafura offshore patrol vessel program.

Edinburgh Defence Precinct

The Edinburgh Defence Precinct is a key national defence research, manufacturing and sustainment hub housing RAAF Base Edinburgh, Defence Science and Technology and major defence companies.

Tonsley Innovation District

Tonsley Innovation District is a 61 hectare mixed-use precinct incorporating urban development, and supporting amenities, research institutions and high-value manufacturing businesses. Home to Flinders University’s Australian Industrial Transformation Institute and the BAE Systems Australia collaboration lab which takes cutting-edge digital technology from the research lab into the shipyard.

Technology Park Adelaide

Only 12kms from the Adelaide CBD, Technology Park Adelaide is an ideal location for established and emerging technology companies with a strong focus on systems development and integration, information communication technology, advanced manufacturing and electronics with expertise involving more than 100 companies.

Test and training areas

South Australia is home to a large and varied contingent of Australian defence organisation facilities including RAAF Base Edinburgh, DST Edinburgh, Cultana Training Area and Woomera Test Range.

Access to skills

South Australia has a proven track record when it comes to developing a large, highly-skilled workforce for major defence projects. The state has a number of partnership programs in place, higher-education courses and technical colleges supporting students to pursue trade pathways into high demand jobs such as defence and shipbuilding. It is also home to the Naval Shipbuilding College (NSC). The NSC is a national entity focused on establishing industry workforce requirements in Australia and ensuring that a suitably skilled and qualified workforce is available to deliver the pipeline of defence industry work on offer.

Defence science and research

South Australia has a long history of success in defence science and research, underpinned by strong education and industry alliances.

Defence Science and Technology’s (DST) longstanding presence in South Australia has fostered strong partnerships with industry and the state’s research sector to deliver world-leading research for Australia’s defence and national security.

The Defence Innovation Partnership - a collaborative initiative of Defence SA, DST and SA’s three universities - is a catalyst for defence research and development collaborations.

In good company

With an attractive business environment, South Australia is proudly pro-defence, and that is why a number of top companies have set up regional headquarters or significant operations in the state. This includes:

• BAE Systems
• ASC Shipbuilding
• Naval Group
• Lockheed Martin
• Babcock
• Raytheon
• Saab