Geelong is the focus of growing investment in defence manufacturing following the success of Hanwha Defense Australia in its bid to win the multi-billion dollar Commonwealth Government’s Land 400 Phase 3 program.
GMC major sponsor, Hanwha Defense Australia, was announced as the winning bidder in July 2023. 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, due to open in 2024 as part of its original contract to deliver for LAND8116, the Australian Government’s self-propelled howitzer program.
The company has committed to building the vehicles using a largely Australian supply chain, with many suppliers expected to seek to locate close to the South Korean conglomerate’s defence manufacturing hub at Avalon. The project is expected to support 500-600 direct jobs and over 1,000 indirect jobs in Australian defence industry suppliers.
Other GMC members including Deakin University, GMC industry sponsor, Marand, and member companies FLAIM, Quickstep, UMS, Air Radiators, RPC Technologies, IXL Group, Carbon Revolution and Sykes Rowing, 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 an alliance of defence ready companies and organisations under the umbrella of the Geelong Defence Alliance. Please contact us for information on how to join.
Download the GDA brochure here.