Raytheon Australia opens Centre for Collaboration in Queensland

Raytheon Australia recently opened its new advanced Centre for Collaboration in southeast Queensland, enabling opportunities for greater collaboration between the defence industry and the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy officially opened the centre, which marks a significant investment by Raytheon Australia in its national infrastructure plan for a network of purpose-built, secure facilities around the country. Located in Cannon Hill, the Centre for Collaboration supplements the capabilities of the Centre for Joint Integration in Adelaide, South Australia, the Centre for Engineering in Sydney, NSW, and the Customer Engagement Centre in Canberra, ACT. The new centre will serve as a central hub for electronic warfare, air traffic management, ground-based air defence, and integrated logistics, and will help facilitate collaboration with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and Defence. Raytheon Australia’s Managing Director, Michael Ward, said there has never been a more critical time for industry collaboration. “With 25 years’ experience supporting Australia’s Defence ecosystem, we know how important it is for all parties to work together to support our national Defence,” he said. “The Centre for Collaboration enables our highly skilled workforce to work side-by-side with the ADF and our local industry partners to deliver tailored, world-leading capability for those in uniform that suits their requirements and Australia’s unique conditions. It is these opportunities for collaboration that enable us to continue our work as a true capability partner for Australia’s Defence, as we play our part in protecting Australia’s national security.” With a focus on upskilling industry, the Centre for Collaboration will also actively support Raytheon Australia’s innovative Capability Plus program, which provides pathways for SMEs to develop and enhance their capability to work with Defence. The centre is also a practical investment in the growth of Australia’s industrial base. “The Centre will also allow us to support and grow Defence industry employment in the long-term, through the offering of professional development and early career investment for our world-class team,” Ward said. “This investment will not only support upskilling our future workforce, but also give them unique experience working on some of the most exciting and complex programs in the country.” The Centre for Collaboration is a four-level, 7,800-square-metre facility that features software integration laboratories, technical workshops, training rooms, integration spaces, and adaptable office accommodation. The facility will be a base for Brisbane-based employees, including an expanding graduate cohort, as well as for uniformed and Defence personnel. Minister Conroy said, “I am honoured to officially open this industry-funded facility, highlighting the importance of private sector collaboration in supporting our Defence industry eco-system. “This facility will support up to 400 jobs and strengthens the local defence industry in southeast Queensland. The Defence Industry Development Strategy identified the value of shared user hub facilities in helping defence industry businesses uplift their security and I am pleased Raytheon has taken the initiative to build this facility as a way of helping their industry partners to work in a secure environment. In today’s dynamic security landscape, industry collaboration is more critical than ever. This facility not only reflects Raytheon Australia’s commitment but also aligns with the broader national effort to ensure the ADF has access to cutting-edge capabilities tailored to our unique conditions.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]