Case study

The Future of BAE SystemsAustraliaMade in Williamtown

BAE Systems Australia grows capabilities through collaboration with NSW Government

Front cover image courtesy of Department of Defence image library.

BAE Systems landed a leading

role in maintaining and

supporting the F-35 Joint Strike

Fighter aircraft as part of the

world’s largest defence project.

In 2000, BAE Systems started

its aircraft engineering and

maintenance support services

at the Royal Australian Air Force

(RAAF) base in Williamtown, in

the Hunter Region of New South

Wales (NSW). Since winning

its support role for the F-35

Joint Strike Fighter program in

Australia and the Asia–Pacific

region, the company has been

growing its capability to support

the F-35. This may ultimately

see it add an extra 400 staff

members across their aerospace

maintenance operations in

Australia over the next ten years.

The defence, security and

aerospace engineering company

won assignments to maintain

the airframe on the F-35 in

the South Pacific, manage the

Asia–Pacific warehouse for the

aircraft and to maintain key F-35

components—competing against

Asia–based maintenance and

support companies. With the

Commonwealth Government’s

acquisition of 72 F-35 aircraft

from the US, it provides a much

larger opportunity for BAE

Systems in Williamtown (noting

that over 3,000 F-35 aircraft

are being produced and sold

worldwide). As each aircraft

arrives at the RAAF base, they

will need to be maintained,

overhauled, repaired and

upgraded using advanced

sustainment capabilities. On top

of this, in 2016 BAE Systems

began the project to upgrade the

Royal Australian Air Force’s Hawk

Mk127 fleet to make it amongst

the most advanced of its type in

the world.

Andrew Chapman, F-35 Program

Director at BAE Systems

Australia, is spearheading the

effort to bolster the company’s

capabilities. His Williamtown

team has been working with

partners, including the NSW

Government and Commonwealth

Government, to build the systems

needed to support the F-35

located in the Pacific region.

Fast facts about BAE Systems

Other key locations

include the UK, the US,

Saudi Arabia and India

Defence, security and

aerospace engineering

specialist

NSW locations:

North Ryde, Sydney

central business

district and

Williamtown

83,200 employees

globally, 3,200

people in Australia

Collaborating to achieve shared outcomes

NSW is the ideal location for

businesses like BAE Systems as

it has the highest concentration

of Defence assets of any state or

territory in Australia.

It also hosts many of the

country’s leading tertiary

research and development

institutions, where work boosting

defence sector capabilities,

including through the Defence

Innovation Network, can be

carried out.

“Australia is competing with

Japan and South Korea to win

more work to maintain and

support F-35 aircraft in the

region. Aerospace sustainment

providers in these countries

are working closely with their

governments to keep the cost of

their services as low as possible,”

Chapman says.

Recognising this challenge, the

NSW Government has granted

$11.7 million in funding to develop

infrastructure and skills in the

Hunter region to ensure Australia

can successfully compete with

other countries for future F-35

contracts, which represent true

defence exports. BAE Systems

is also in talks with Defence

NSW and the Commonwealth

Department of Defence regarding

establishing a training facility

for future F-35 technicians in

Williamtown.

“The way the federal, state and

local institutions have been

working together to make

sure we are putting our best

foot forward and providing

opportunities for people in the

local region is like nothing I’ve

seen before,” Chapman says.

“There’s a real partnership

happening here.”

Chapman believes that through

close collaboration between

the defence industry and

government, Williamtown and the

Hunter Region can continue to

develop robust and competitive

capabilities to support the

F-35 program—and create

opportunities for people in

region and for Australia’s

defence industry.

The NSW Government has granted $11.7 million in funding to develop infrastructure and skills in the Hunter region to ensure Australia can successfully compete with other countries for future F-35 contracts, which represent true defence exports.

The way the federal, state and local institutions have been working together to make sure we are putting our best foot forward and providing opportunities for people in the local region is like nothing

I’ve seen before. Andrew Chapman, F-35 Program Director at BAE Systems Australia

Choosing Williamtown

BAE Systems first established a

footprint at RAAF Williamtown as

a result of a merger of companies

supporting the F/A-18 Hornet

aircraft. Its aerospace facility

was constructed in 2000 for final

assembly and then through-

life support of the RAAF Hawk

aircraft. The facility has also been

used for Hornet maintenance and

support throughout phases of

that aircraft’s operational life.

This footprint has allowed BAE

Systems to provide through-

life support to the Hawks it

maintains at RAAF Williamtown

and RAAF Pearce, where RAAF

squadrons are located. The

company also supports the RAAF

at other bases in regional NSW

cities such as Wagga Wagga

and Nowra, and provides basic

flying training for the Australian

Defence Force in the northern

NSW city of Tamworth.

Now the Aerospace Integrated

Systems Business Unit is focusing

on boosting its ability to maintain

and support the F-35 Joint Strike

Fighter, which first enters RAAF

service this year. Expected to be

in service in Australia and the

Asia–Pacific region until at least

2070, these aircraft will have to

be maintained and sustained over

the long term. “What we’re doing

is setting up a capability pipeline

for the next generation, to ensure

that we’re using that capability

and developing people and

facilities in the local region,” says

Chapman. “This includes over

180 local Australian businesses

that already support our existing

aircraft sustainment activities at

Williamtown. F-35 will provide

significant further opportunity for

our local SMEs.”

Learn moreThe NSW Department of Industry can assist businesses looking to invest in the Defence and Aerospace sectors by providing market intelligence, information on investment opportunities, support for business case development and connections with government contacts and the local business network.

Contact the NSW Government’s Industry, Trade and Investment team by visiting invest.nsw.gov.au

TheFutureMadeHereT: +61 2 8222 4888

W: invest.nsw.gov.au

© State of New South Wales through Department of Industry 2019.

The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and

understanding at the time of writing (February 2019). However, because of

advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that the

information upon which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of

the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Industry

or the user’s independent adviser.

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