United States Navy (USN) aircraft will undergo comprehensive maintenance, repair and overhaul at the Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility adjacent to RAAF Base Edinburgh, with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) also considering a similar arrangement.

The complex maintenance activity for the USN MQ-4C Triton and NZDF P-8A Poseidon will boost local industry capability, showcasing the state’s world-class infrastructure.

Significantly, the servicing activity will inject up to $160 million into the local economy and create and sustain 80 highly skilled jobs in Adelaide.

The project comes from close cooperation between the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments, Department of Defence, defence industry and international partners, and supports Defence’s Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIP) as identified in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

One of the SDIPs is the maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade of Australian Defence Force (ADF) and trusted partner aircraft in Australia, with this activity supporting interoperability with allied forces whilst enhancing ADF capability to sustain and maintain critical assets across international borders.

South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan welcomed the groundbreaking initiative.

“The South Australian Government is working closely with the Commonwealth to deliver the critical infrastructure necessary to meet the aircraft sustainment needs of the ADF and our trusted allies,” Minister Mullighan said.

“This initiative will strengthen opportunities for local supply chains, generate highly-skilled jobs in South Australia and bolster our nation’s industrial capability to ensure we are equipped to meet future demands.”

Read the media release here