Navantia Australia has opened a new office in Canberra with Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, formally inaugurating the office.
Guests included senior representatives from the Australian Government, Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Spanish Embassy and Navantia, including Alicia Payne; Ambassador Esther Monterrubio Villar; Navantia Director of Operations and Business, Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero; Deputy Secretary, National Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment, David Hanley; and Rear Admiral Andrew Quinn representing the Chief of Navy.
Located at the heart of the nation’s defence and policy community, the Canberra office will strengthen collaboration with Defence, government, industry and research partners. It also expands Navantia Australia’s national capability, building on its established presence in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Navantia Australia Managing Director Israel Lozano welcomed the opening as an important step in the company's Australian growth strategy.
“Our new Canberra office represents much more than a physical presence. It reflects Navantia Australia’s long-term commitment to Australia’s defence priorities and our confidence in the future of the nation’s naval industrial base," Lozano said.
“As we grow, we will continue investing in Australian people, innovation and naval engineering to deliver sovereign outcomes for our customers and create pathways into international markets."
Navantia Australia sustains the RAN's Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks and Hobart-class Guided Missile Destroyers while expanding sovereign experience in naval engineering, digital technologies, innovation and maritime autonomy.
The Canberra office will support the growth of Navantia Australia’s innovation division, where Australian engineers are developing sovereign capabilities in maritime autonomy, digital engineering, naval architecture and mission-systems integration.
According to Navantia, connecting this Australian experience with Navantia’s global network will create pathways for locally developed technologies, intellectual property and industry partners to reach trusted international customers.
Navantia Australia is pursuing opportunities across the Indo-Pacific and other priority markets, including the United Kingdom, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, in autonomous vessels, amphibious and landing craft, mine countermeasures, digital sustainment and advanced surface-ship design.
Lozano said Australia’s engineering base would play an increasingly important role in domestic programs and international growth.
“By combining Navantia’s global expertise with Australian innovation and engineering excellence, we are creating new pathways for Australian technologies, skills and intellectual property to reach customers around the world,” Lozano said.