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Babcock Australasia has officially launched a new International Engineering & Technology Hub in Melbourne as part of increased research and development efforts across multiple defence domains.
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The $3.5 million Abbotsford facility is expected to drive engineering and programmatic initiatives supporting Babcock’s entire global operation and serve as a collaborative environment for engineers and technologists to pioneer solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern warfare.
Key projects and initiatives being managed from the hub include:
- Development of advanced capabilities such as autonomous surveillance, undersea systems, and strategic communications technologies to meet trilateral requirements.
- Systems engineering, integration and testing in support of Australian and New Zealand high-frequency communications, along with growth of global capability in complex systems development.
- Design and build support for Babcock International’s Type 31 Frigate program in the UK.
- Generation of breakthrough innovations in autonomy, artificial intelligence, digitally enabled asset management, and electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft solutions for Babcock’s aviation operations.
- Exploration of future opportunities for nuclear-powered submarine engineering and support.
The state-of-the-art hub has been designed with future defence needs in mind and includes provisions for specialist laboratories and other security-accredited testing facilities to simulate, model and validate new technologies so they can be brought into service quickly.
The hub is strategically located in Victoria to leverage the state’s extensive supply chain network, well-credentialled academic institutions and rich engineering talent pool.
“This leading facility will enable the delivery of complex and bespoke technical solutions to both the Australian Defence Force and our allies around the world, particularly around AUKUS Pillar 2, which relies on the combined industrial might of the trilateral partners to deliver interoperability and advanced capabilities,” said Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland.
“Our purpose at Babcock is to create a safe and secure world together, and we are committed to fostering partnerships with government, local industry and international stakeholders that enable us to create market-leading competencies and equip our Defence Force with the tools it needs to maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly delicate global landscape.”
Part-funded by the Victorian government, the facility is expected to create as many as 100 new highly skilled jobs over the next three years and will play a crucial role in Babcock’s workforce development initiatives, contributing to the growth of a robust and resilient industrial base.
Leading these teams will be some of Babcock’s most senior engineers from across its global business.
“Innovation is fundamental to national security, which is why we are investing heavily in research and development, and the pursuit of new technologies. The International Engineering & Technology Hub gives us the infrastructure to be able to turn visionary ideas into actionable, sovereign solutions that can shape Defence readiness, response and resilience,” said Babcock International Group chief engineering and technology officer Brad Yelland.
“With the help of Victorian government grant funding, we have been able to create a cutting-edge workspace where we can engage with the Commonwealth, SMEs, academia, and research organisations such as the CSIRO and Defence Science and Technology Group across a wide range of projects and at all classification levels. This will lead to greater uplift across the board, from project outcomes to skills and capability development to job creation.”
The move to the new facility follows a period of sustained growth for Babcock in Australia, particularly Melbourne, where its defence workforce has grown sevenfold since 2019. Babcock also proudly provides 24/7 aero-medical response services across Victoria on behalf of the state’s ambulance service.
