• Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks at the announcement at RAAF Base Richmond, with (L-R) NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne,Paul Fletcher, Dave Perry (president, Northrop Grumman International), and Angus Taylor. Credit: Northrop Grumman Australia
    Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks at the announcement at RAAF Base Richmond, with (L-R) NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne,Paul Fletcher, Dave Perry (president, Northrop Grumman International), and Angus Taylor. Credit: Northrop Grumman Australia
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Northrop Grumman Corporation will invest $50 million to develop an advanced defence electronics maintenance and sustainment centre that will eventually be located in a defence precinct at the new Badgerys Creek Western Sydney airport.

The investment will secure Northrop Grumman's place as the anchor tenant for the advanced aerospace and defence industries precinct.

In a company statement Northrop Grumman said Australia will require defence solutions that are more sophisticated and increasingly reliant upon complex electronic systems in coming decades.

“Northrop Grumman’s investment will establish an Electronic Sustainment Centre of Excellence (ESCE) to support this effort and sustain mission-readiness capabilities within the Commonwealth.”

“Northrop Grumman is deeply committed to Australia. This investment in a new centre of excellence is the next step in our partnership with the ADF, helping to ensure regional security and mission success,” CEO Northrop Grumman Australia Ian Irving said. 

The centre will support advanced electronics such as communications equipment, electronic warfare equipment and targeting pods. The company will help to sustain the advanced capabilities of the ADF in country by bringing together highly skilled technicians, engineers and other professionals whose work will be further supported by the company’s high-end technology and software expertise.

The ESCE could include capabilities to support the maintenance, repair, set-to-work and future upgrade of Northrop Grumman’s advanced electronics on the RAAF’s C-130 Hercules, F-35 JSF, EA-18G Growler, MQ-4C Triton, and P-8A Poseidon. In partnership with the
Commonwealth, it may also support sustainment for third party electronics and equipment on other key Commonwealth land, air and sea fleets

Spokesperson for the Australia Made Defence campaign Margot Forster said the investment will help Australia continue its development of cutting edge technology.

“Australia’s defence industry is an innovative and exciting sector, and it is great to see that leading defence companies are increasingly looking for ways to invest and expand their Australian presence.”

Forster added the company had already demonstrated an interest in partnering with universities and education institutes to train students for the high-skilled positions that will become available over coming years. 

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