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 work on projects such as the Naval Strike Missile capability for Anzac Class Frigates and Hobart Class Destroyers and the sustainment of NASAMS Ground Based Air Defence systems and Protector Remote Weapon Systems.

The facility will be used for a range of activities including manufacture, assembly, integration, test, training, verification and maintenance, as well as software development and support.

General Manager for Kongsberg John Fry said growing demand had fuelled the need to bring the development forward.

“We are currently co-located with Raytheon Australia at the Centre for Joint Integration in Mawson Lakes because of our role on NASAMS (National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) for the Australian Army under Project Land 19 Phase 7B. However, the decision was made to invest in a new Kongsberg facility to support existing and future growth opportunities,” Mr Fry explained.

“Thanks to Renewal SA, we found the ideal spot at Technology Park within the defence industry ecosystem and designed a facility that we could expand in stages as our business grew. However, current programs combined with the nature of the technology transfer from Norway to Australia, has allowed us to commit to building the entire facility and all of its stages.”

The sizeable investment bodes well for both the defence industry and the local economy at large with the facility expected to welcome its 30 local employees in the second half of 2024 and ambitious plans in place to accommodate as many as 150 staff at the facility in future.

As well as being co-located with Raytheon Australia, members of the local Kongsberg team have been operating from Defence SA’s Defence & Space Landing Pad at the Lot Fourteen innovation district while the facility has been under construction.