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Boeing to open office in South Australia

Defence

LEADING global aerospace company Boeing will open an office in South Australia this month.

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Boeing’s new Adelaide office will support advanced military systems and leading edge research and development over the long term. The hub will work closely with universities, other tertiary institutions and research organisations.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill and Boeing Managing Director Darren Edwards were expected to sign the deed today, with Boeing’s new Adelaide office to officially open in the coming week.

Boeing’s presence in Australia is already its largest outside of the United States, employing more 3000 staff nationally, with the majority in Queensland.

However, it will be the first time it has had a presence in South Australia, which is positioning itself as the nation’s “Defence State”.

Weatherill said Boeing’s decision to choose South Australia for its expansion demonstrated confidence in the state’s future.

“Boeing’s expansion in South Australia will create opportunities for highly-skilled workers in the defence and research sector, with flow on effects to the supply chain and broader economy. It also signals the increasing aerospace presence in South Australia,” he said.

Boeing is a leading manufacturer of commercial jet airliners, military aircraft and defence, space and security systems, employing 140,000 people across the globe.

Adelaide is poised to become a global centre of excellence for the defence sector with more than AU$100 billion worth of major industry projects in the pipeline. Recent investment in innovation in South Australia includes an AU$230m Centre for Defence Industry Capability backed by the Australian Federal Government.

The state is home to several major defence companies including the Australian Submarine CorporationBAE Systems and SAAB. It is also home to the Defence Teaming Centre, the peak defence industry body in South Australia with 24 member companies.

Australia’s largest shipbuilding hub, Techport, is located in South Australia and hosts the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance, which is building three next-generation destroyers for the Australian Navy.

Techport is also responsible for the sustainment program for the Collins-class submarine fleet and is expected to be where 12 Shortfin Barracuda submarines will be built by French shipbuilder DCNS for the Royal Australian Navy.

South Australia has a long history in the space industry, which started when the Woomera Test Range was established in 1947 about 450km north of Adelaide.

The outback range is still used and last year launched an experimental rocket flight as part of a joint research program, HIFiRE (Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program).

In October 2016, South Australia and the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) agreed to jointly pursue space-related industries.

In September, Adelaide will host over 3000 delegates from around the world at the 68th International Astronautical Congress (IAC).

This is a Creative Commons story from The Lead South Australia, a news service providing stories about innovation in South Australia. Please feel free to use the story in any form of media. The story sources are linked in with the copy and all contacts are willing to talk further about the story. Copied to Clipboard

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