Lockheed Martin Australia has broken ground on an $85.9 million defence precinct in the Hunter region that will strengthen Australia’s integrated air and missile defence and F-35 sustainment capabilities.
Lockheed Martin Australia has commenced construction of its $85.9 million Air Power Precinct in the Hunter region, marking a significant investment in Australia’s sovereign defence capability and aerospace industry.
The company officially launched the project during a sod-turning ceremony in Williamtown on 3 July alongside minister for defence industry Pat Conroy.
The purpose-built National Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) Ecosystem will support the development, integration and sustainment of next-generation air and missile defence systems while reinforcing Australia’s growing defence industrial base.
Construction will be undertaken by Australian-owned contractor Built, with the facility expected to become operational in 2028.
Once complete, the precinct will house dedicated areas for hardware assembly and installation, systems integration and validation, end-to-end testing, sovereign software sustainment and advanced training. It will also support Australia’s Joint Air Battle Management System.
The development will play a key role in sustaining Australia’s fleet of F-35 Lightning II aircraft, providing program management support to Lockheed Martin Australia’s F-35 sustainment team, the company’s largest international F-35 sustainment operation.
The precinct will also establish a dedicated canopy repair capability within Australia, supported by advanced diagnostic, repair and testing infrastructure designed to reduce reliance on overseas facilities while strengthening the Royal Australian Air Force’s operational resilience.
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Jeremy King said the investment reflected the company’s long-term commitment to Australia’s defence capability.
“As Defence’s strategic partner on AIR6500 and F-35, we recognise our duty to uplift Australia’s defence industry from the ground up, turning skilled talent into critical capability.”
King said the new facility would improve Australia’s ability to support its own defence requirements while strengthening cooperation with international partners.
“This investment demonstrates our enduring commitment to Australia’s military readiness and sovereignty. By building a secure, world class Air Power Precinct we enhance coalition interoperability and safeguard our nation’s way of life through self reliance and advanced technology.”
He added that the project would also provide significant economic benefits for the Hunter region.
“For the Hunter region, the Lockheed Martin Australia precinct generates important economic benefits. It creates opportunity for jobs growth, small-to-medium enterprise innovation, reinforces supply chain resilience, and positions the Hunter defence community as a strategic hub in the Indo-Pacific F-35 and IAMD ecosystem.”
The project is expected to create more than 200 jobs during construction before generating more than 60 new aerospace positions and sustaining over 230 highly skilled engineering and technical roles once operational.
In addition to creating employment opportunities, the precinct is expected to strengthen Australia’s defence supply chain by providing new opportunities for local suppliers and small-to-medium enterprises to participate in future defence programs.
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