Babcock has opened a new facility in Woodville North, Adelaide, to expand its manufacturing and repair capabilities in support of Australia’s army and navy programs.
The $31 million Australian dollar ($20.5 million) center will cover asset management for Counter Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive capabilities, in-service sustainment and life extension of Collins-class submarines, systems development for Hunter-class frigates, and other future tasks associated with the trilateral AUKUS submarine program.
About 4,000 square meters (44,056 square feet) of the site will be dedicated workshops, while another 2,000 square meters (21,528 square feet) will be used for administrative tasks.
The center will house over 100 engineers and technical experts. By the end of the year, it will be fully operational and eventually replace the company’s activities in Osborne.
The firm said that the effort during the construction phase supported approximately 200 jobs. It was completed in partnership with local construction firm Tandem Building Group.
“This cutting-edge facility underpins our commitment to our defence customers by positioning us at the forefront of national defence capabilities,” Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland remarked.
“At Babcock our mission is to create a safe and secure world together, and we can already see this facility acting as a centre of collaboration for young engineers who share that ambition and want to hone their craft in an environment that gives them opportunities to grow their careers right here in Adelaide.”