BAE Systems Australia is one of the largest defence contractors in Australia. It was formed by the merger of British Aerospace Australia and GEC-Marconi Systems and expanded by the acquisitions of Armor Holdings in 2007 and Tenix Defence in June 2008. It is a subsidiary of BAE Systems.

History

BAE Systems' Australian heritage dates back to testing of the first generation air defence missile systems at the Woomera Test Range in the early 1950s. Weapons testing at Woomera began in 1953 by the Bristol Aeroplane Company and English Electric. Both companies merged to become the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). In 1977, BAC was nationalised and operations in Australia were renamed British Aerospace Australia. British Aerospace Australia doubled in size in April 1996 with the purchase of AWA Defence Industries (AWADI). AWADI was formed in October 1988 by the merger of the defence electronics business of AWA, Thorn EMI Electronics Australia and Fairey Australasia. BAE Systems was formed on 30 November 1999, following the merger of British Aerospace with the General Electric Company's defence arm, Marconi Electronic Systems. BAE Systems Australia expanded with its parent company's acquisition of Armor Holdings in 2007 and doubled in size with the purchase of Tenix Defence in June 2008.

Products and services

BAE Systems Australia provides many products and services to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) including: Fast Jet support, Military Flight Training, Autonomous Systems, Guided Weapons (naval air defence) and Communications, Command & Support. BAE Systems Australia operates two business units: Aerospace and Maritime & Integrated Systems (M&IS).

Naval

BAE Systems inherited the Canberra-class landing helicopter dock project from Tenix Defence. On 22 October 2008, BAE Systems was selected to continue with the Royal Australian Navy's Guided Missile Frigate Maintenance Contract (FFG IMS). BAE Systems replaced the existing company Thales Australia on 1 January 2009. This contract is expected to run until the last guided missile frigate (HMAS Newcastle (FFG 06)) is decommissioned in 2021. BAE Systems' bid for work on the Hobart-class destroyers was rejected in May 2009, when the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance subcontracted 70% of construction of the destroyers to NQEA and the Forgacs Marine & Defence. However, on 29 June 2009, the work allocated to NQEA was transferred to BAE Systems Australia due to the former being unable to meet its financial obligations to the project. BAE Systems will build a total of 36 blocks for the three destroyers at Williamstown Dockyard. These are the hull machinery compartments, and bow and stern sections of the ships. BAE Systems was announced on 29 June 2018 as the preferred tenderer to build the Hunter-class frigates, through ASC Shipbuilding and building the nine ships in South Australia. ASC Shipbuilding was acquired by BAE Systems in December 2018, and renamed to BAE Systems Maritime Australia in 2021.

Aerospace

BAE Systems, along with several other defence contractors, is developing the MQ-28 Ghost Bat. They have also showcased the STRIX VSTOL drone at the Australian International Airshow.

Corporate and community

BAE Systems Australia is headquartered at Adelaide, South Australia. the company employs approximately 5,500 people Australia-wide. BAE Systems Australia's partner charity since 2015 is Soldier On with whom they work to support the health, employment and rehabilitation of Australia's veterans, service personnel and their families.