Geelong is the focus of growing investment in defence manufacturing.
GMC major supporter, Hanwha Defence Australia, was announced as the winning bidder for the Commonwealth Government’s multi-million dollar LAND 400 program. Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, said in his announcement: “The LAND 400 Phase 3 project will have a value of between $5bn and $7bn, making it one of the largest capability acquisition projects in the history of the Army.”
Hanwha will build 129 Redback infantry fighting vehicles at their $170m Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct facility, which augments its orginal contract to deliver for LAND 8116, the Australian Government’s self-propelled howitzer program.
Other GMC members including Avalon Airport, Deakin University, Marand, UMS, Air Radiators, RPC Technologies, IXL Group, Carbon Revolution, among others, work closely within the Defence sector here and overseas to deliver advanced technologies and unique solutions.
Manufacturing has the highest multiplier effect of any sector in the economy, spurring investment in the creation of jobs and innovation elsewhere. Defence prime contractors, such as Hanwha, also build and leverage capability and sophistication in their supply chains through technology transfer and knowledge sharing.
The City of Greater Geelong and the Geelong Manufacturing Council collaborate to bring together the alliance of defence ready companies and organisations under the umbrella of the Geelong Defence Alliance. Please contact us for information on how to join.