SA defence company reaches AUKUS milestone
An Adelaide defence company has graduated from lawnmower manufacturing to AUKUS, as SA outpaces other states in the latest defence industry ABS data.
Adelaide company Century Engineering is the first Australian business to secure an export contract into the US’ nuclear supply chain, the Premier announced this morning.
Premier Peter Malinuaskas and Defence Industries Minister Chris Picton were at the manufacturing facility at Edinburgh North this morning for the announcement, where Century employs 190 staff.
The contract is with the Virginia-based Newport News Shipbuilding, and Century Engineering would begin manufacturing precision-engineered cranks for US aircraft carriers in the coming weeks.
H&B Defence delivers the qualification program for manufacturers to reach US naval nuclear standards, and managing director Tim Brown said the deal was “more than a single contract”.
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“It shows Australian SMEs can meet the highest standards and take their place in trusted international defence supply chains, contributing at scale,” Brown said.
The Premier said it was a big jump for Century, which “not so long ago, was making parts for Victa lawnmowers”.
“Now, through the opportunity provided by AUKUS, it is making parts for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the United States.”
The announcement comes as SA’s defence industry his a record $2.015 billion in economic activity, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The latest ABS data showed South Australia leading all major states in both defence economic activity and defence employment on a per capita basis.
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