Queensland has strong, diverse capabilities across a range of high value sectors, including aviation and aerospace, electronics, marine, engineering, construction, and machinery and equipment manufacturing.

Queensland's defence industry advantages

Queensland is recognised as the:

• centre for the Australian defence industry's aviation and aerospace capability
• centre for the Australian rotary wing (helicopter) capability
• developing hub for research and development of defence-related technologies such as hypersonics, Unmanned Airborne Vehicles (UAVs), advanced composites and simulation
• developing hub for heavy vehicles to support defence requirements
• prime location for training of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and testing facilities for new technologies.

Fast facts

Queensland's defence industry:

• is home to 21 per cent of ADF personnel
• has an estimated annual turnover of A$1.4 billion
• employs over 13,000 people, making it the second-largest Defence employer nationally.

Land

Queensland, with its strong manufacturing industry base linked into global supply chains, offers a diverse range of well-established land capabilities including:

• the manufacture, modification, maintenance, repair and overhaul of heavy vehicles, recovery vehicles, trailers, equipment and special purpose modules
• ballistic protection for personnel, vehicles and aircraft
• personal load carrying equipment
• tactical UAVs
• armed reconnaissance and troop lift helicopters
• communications and control systems
• ground radar systems.

Marine

Queensland's marine sector has capabilities to support the expanding naval presence within the State, including:

• communications and control systems
• ship construction
• refit and repair
• contract maintenance and through life support
• design and engineering support.

Aviation and aerospace

After almost a decade of unprecedented industry growth, the Government's vision for Queensland as an aviation and aerospace hub for the Asian Pacific region is fast becoming a reality.

Key industry capabilities include:

• military and civil airport infrastructure
• airport management
• defence contracts
• research and development
• training and education services
• aircraft, component and system design
• manufacture and modification
• maintenance, repair and overhaul.

For more information see the aviation and aerospace page.

Who else is here?

• Australian Aerospace (subsidiary of Eurocopter) - Asia Pacific headquarters and rotary wing manufacturing
• Boeing Defence Australia - Australian headquarters, aerospace and network enabled systems
• Boeing Research and Technology Australia - headquarters and research and development
• Combat Clothing Australia - privately-owned company specialising in the design and manufacture of a wide range of military and para-military equipment and accessories
• Daher Australian Aerospace - aerospace composite components manufacturing facility and research and development
• Ekebol Engineering - design and production of vehicle recovery and towing equipment for the ADF. Currently participating in the ADF Overlander Project LAND121 for the supply of Recovery Systems
• Forgacs Engineering - one of Australia's leading ship repair, ship construction, and engineering companies with Defence contracts for the Royal Australian Navy
• Haulmark Trailers Australia - awarded a LAND 121 contract which will see Haulmark Trailers supply 3000 new trailers to the ADF
• Mack Trucks - manufacturing facility which has produced more than 1,000 trucks for the ADF since 1981
• Micreo Limited - company headquarters, which develops products for the ultra-high data rate, long-haul, fiber optic communications market
• Raytheon Australia - avionics maintenance and logistics centre
• Sikorsky Aircraft Australia - provision of maintenance, spares and support to both civil and ADF helicopters in the Asia Pacific region
• Thales Australia - maintenance of Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles for the ADF mechanised units in Queensland
• Tote Systems Australia - Queensland-based manufacturer and supplier of police and security equipment. Customers include the United Nations, Security Services, Corrective Services, Medical services and the Department of Defence
• Viking Industries - construction, refit and fitout of boats for the Royal Australian Navy.

More information

For more information on Queensland's defence industry, visit the Queensland Government's defence website.

For more information about investing in Queensland's defence industry contact us.