A team of three South Australian high school students will put their STEM skills to the test when they represent Australia on the global stage at the F1 in Schools world finals in Saudi Arabia next month. The year 12 Modbury High School students, who form Acrux, will complete against some of the brightest young minds from 51 countries for their place on the F1 in Schools podium, after placing second in the Australian National Finals and winning three awards. FI in Schools is the largest school-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition in the world. Designed to spark ...

The former Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General, Rick Burr (Ret’d), has joined the Defence SA Advisory Board. Lieutenant General Burr AO DSC MVO (Ret’d) has held a range of leadership positions throughout his extensive military career, including as Chief of the Australian Army, from 2018-2022. He brings a unique skill-set and a range of knowledge across all areas of Defence. After an extensive Army career living around Australia and overseas, Lieutenant General Burr said he was pleased to return ‘home’ and contribute to the exciting developments in South Australia. “South Australia has a strong reputation as the Defence ...

A new partnership between the South Australian Government and Flinders University will accelerate the tertiary studies of Findon Technical College students pursuing in-demand careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing. Under the joint initiative, students will be able to complete the first year of their university degree in year 12, giving them a head start in their careers. Students studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) will be eligible for the program, which aims to build South Australia’s specialised workforce in a range of   high-demand industries, including defence and space. Flinders University Senior Deputy-Vice Chancellor, Professor Romy Lawson, said the new initiative ...

BAE Systems Australia has been announced as the anchor tenant in Lot Fourteen’s Innovation Centre, the first new build at the innovation district. The move will see approximately 500 BAE Systems employees located at the Lot Fourteen headquarters, positioning the company at the centre of South Australia’s defence and critical technologies sector. It would significantly grow the company’s South Australian footprint, which includes the Osborne Naval Shipyard – the manufacturing hub for the Hunter Class Frigate Program and the future site for the construction of the SSN-AUKUS submarine fleet – and other key locations at Edinburgh Parks, Tonsley Innovation District ...

With a record presence of 67 companies on board, the South Australia the Defence State stand was once again a hive of activity across Land Forces, held in Melbourne from 11-13 September 2024. Overall, the event proved a huge success for organisers with 15 percent higher attendance on the previous record set in 2022. “Not only has this been the biggest and the best Land Forces yet, it is also the largest defence exposition ever held in Australia,” said Justin Giddings, CEO of Land Forces 2024 organiser AMDA Foundation. “We've had record numbers of delegates and an impressive 995 exhibiting ...

South Australian ruggedised hardware and control system provider APC Technology has celebrated a significant milestone of 40 years of operation. Since its inception, APC Technology has been at the forefront of delivering world-class solutions across industries including defence, industrial automation, aerospace, and more. The journey first began in 1982 when Peter Hodson founded the company, focusing on providing reliable automation solutions. In 1984, the company was officially incorporated as Automation and Process Control Services. Reflecting on the company’s origins, Peter said, “When I started APC Technology, the focus was on providing reliable automation solutions. We could never have imagined the ...

A collaboration between the Australian Space Agency and the Australian Department of Defence Space Command saw the 1 Space Surveillance Unit Commercial Data Mission Centre (1SSU CDMC) first land at Adelaide’s world-class innovation district, Lot Fourteen, in 2023. As a component of Australia’s first defence Joint Space Unit, 1SSU CDMC brings together members of the Royal Australian Air Force, Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy, into an integrated team. In line with 1SSU CDMC’s growing capabilities, the unit has now expanded its footprint at Lot Fourteen. Matt Opie, Chief Executive of the South Australian Space Industry Centre reinforced the value ...

Five South Australian companies will undertake a program to help them enter the global supply chain for nuclear-powered submarines. The $1 million Supplier Capability Uplift Program is part of an agreement between the South Australian Government and US shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) through its Australian entity, HII Nuclear Australia Pty Ltd (HII-NA). The participating companies are McKechnie Iron Foundry, Century Engineering, Levett Engineering, H-E Parts International and MacTaggart Scott Australia. CEO of McKechnie Iron Foundry Andrew Nixon said, “As a South Australian owned company, this is a great opportunity for us and I’m confident in the skills and knowledge ...

BAE Systems Australia has secured a $270 million contract to boost the production of critical guided weapons components at the company’s Edinburgh Parks facility in South Australia. The contract will spur local manufacturing of components and assemblies for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2. It is expected to create more than 24 high-tech jobs, including four apprenticeships, adding to the company’s more than 220-strong workforce in Adelaide’s north. The ESSM Block 2 is a medium-range, surface-to-air missile developed to protect warships from advanced anti-ship cruise missiles. The capability is integrated into the Royal Australian Navy Anzac class frigates and ...

Rapidly translating disruptive new technologies into Australian Defence Force (ADF) capability is essential for preparing our nation for future challenges. We’re regularly reminded by events across the globe that enemies can interfere with the affairs of another country without ever physically crossing their border. Cyber-attacks on infrastructure can cripple daily activities and information warfare has influenced decisions. What’s more, with the Defence environment increasingly benefiting from technological advances, it’s critical our understanding of how humans interact with those technologies evolves accordingly. The Defence Strategic Review recognises that to keep pace with these advances, a whole-of-nation approach is needed to ensure ...

Building on the success of the initial agreement established in 2019, Babcock Australasia (Babcock) will expand the supply of counter-chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (C-CBRNE) asset management and solutions to the Australian Defence Force. Since securing the contract, Babcock has grown the scope and output of the program by more than 400 per cent, addressing critical Defence capability and technology shortfalls through the supply of new C-CBRNE tools. Babcock’s C-CBRNE program delivers 132 different types of equipment in support of a tri-service capability including explosive ordnance disposal suits, remote operating vehicles and various chemical detection systems. The strong performance ...

South Australian company Axiom Precision Manufacturing has secured a multi-year contract with Boeing to deliver doors for the AH-64E Apache attack reconnaissance helicopters. The Defence export contract was awarded through Boeing’s participation in Australia’s Global Supply Chain Program and will see Axiom manufacture components and assemble doors for the global Apache fleet. The manufacturing opportunity is set to create new jobs and boost apprenticeships, according to Axiom General Manager Craig Maynard, who predicts the company’s workforce will grow by 15 per cent. “This contract is an amazing opportunity for us to showcase our precision manufacturing and assembly capabilities,” Maynard said. ...