- South Australia has started building the 11-story Defence HQ building to support defense and space capabilities
- BAE Systems Australia will move its headquarters into the new building to enhance connectivity with its partners
- The facility will also house three projects, a defense technology academy, an innovation hub and a space-focused facility
South Australia has begun construction on a new 11-story Defence HQ building at Lot Fourteen that will support defense, space and critical technologies work, along with the nation’s AUKUS efforts. The building will house BAE Systems Australia’s new state headquarters along with three defense and innovation projects, Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King said in a press release published Wednesday.
The project is part of South Australia’s broader role in Australia’s defense-industrial expansion. The state is also home to efforts to build domestic guided-weapons manufacturing capabilities, including a facility in Port Wakefield that has begun producing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System missiles.
How Will BAE Systems Support South Australia’s Defense Industry?
BAE Systems Australia’s new headquarters at Defence HQ is expected to strengthen the company’s coordination with its operations and partners at Osborne Naval Shipyard, Edinburgh Defence Precinct, Tonsley Innovation District and Findon Technical College. Craig Lockhart, CEO of BAE Systems Australia, said the headquarters will oversee major defense programs and support the company’s plans for employee growth in the state.
The Defence HQ project is expected to double Lot Fourteen’s workforce to more than 3,000 people, with BAE Systems Australia planning to hire about 1,300 employees in 2026. Roughly 80 percent of those hires will fill engineering, trades and production roles. Built, the Australian-owned company selected for the project, is expected to hire more than 300 workers.
What Will Defence HQ Include?
The three additional projects, worth more than $100 million, include a $60 million Australian Defence Technologies Academy jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments; a $24.5 million Innovation Hub to be operated by the University of Adelaide; and a $20 million SpaceBase project, fully funded by the South Australian government.
The projects reflect Australia’s broader push to expand sovereign defense capabilities and develop domestic expertise in advanced technologies. The federal government has also pursued investments in counter-drone systems and sought private-sector partners for a potential $500 million co-investment initiative targeting technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomy, cyber, electronic warfare and quantum systems.
