BAE Systems Australia is planning to establish a defence hub in Victoria by consolidating the company’s Victorian maritime, aerospace and land businesses into a single facility.

The company plans to manufacture its armoured modular vehicle (AMV35) combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRV) at the defence hub, if it wins the Australian Defence Force's $5bn Land 400 Phase II project.

BAE has partnered with Finnish firm Patria for the project and expects to manufacture 225 new CRVs to replace the light armoured vehicle fleet currently in service with the Australian Army.

BAE Systems Australia CEO Glynn Phillips said: “The creation of this new defence hub will provide sustainable, long-term, highly skilled work for Australians and further develop and grow the nation’s Sovereign Industry Capability.

“I am delighted that we can be part of Victoria’s ambition to develop a defence industry that is globally focused, supporting the transition to a stronger and more diversified economy that will benefit all Australians.”

To be located on the former General Motors Holden site at Fishermans Bend in the city of Melbourne, the hub would employ 1,000 engineers and technicians to design, develop, deliver and maintain new defence platforms and systems for the ADF.

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Featuring a simulation, training and test facility, the new Land 400 advanced manufacturing centre will be used to upgrade and maintain vehicles over their service life.

"The creation of this new defence hub will provide sustainable, long-term, highly skilled work for Australians."

The hub will also develop autonomous systems, electronic warfare, hypersonics and weapons technology including the nation’s most defence successful defence export, Nulka.

It will be a centralised point of collaboration with the Commonwealth for Land programmes and possible future export customers, BAE stated.

More than 200 engineers and specialist employees will be based at the new site to support Royal Australian naval ships across Australia.

BAE is also the original equipment manufacturer of the M88 Hercules recovery vehicle, as well as 39mm towed guns and M113 armoured personnel carriers.


Image: The new AMV35 combat reconnaissance vehicle. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.