Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews MP has formally opened Lockheed Martin Australia’s new facilities at the Williamtown Aerospace Centre in Newcastle.
The new facility provides a consolidated centre for Lockheed Martin’s operations in the Hunter Region, with space to expand, for up to 70 engineering and IT specialists supporting the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) surveillance programs; such as the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) and the Tactical Air Defence Radar System (TADRS).
Attending the ribbon cutting ceremony, Minister Andrews was joined by the Member for Paterson, the Hon Bob Baldwin MP, and, Raydon Gates, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia & New Zealand.
“This facility is part of our long term commitment to grow our presence in Australia, and create opportunities for highly skilled local jobs,” said Raydon Gates. “We are proud of our team and our innovative technologies that play such an important role in helping to ensure the security of Australian interests.”
“We have had a presence in the Hunter Region since 2006, and we have grown steadily over the past nine years. This new facility provides us with an opportunity to significantly increase our footprint, and expand the number of programs we are able to support,” added Gates.
Lockheed Martin Australia is the anchor tenant of the $500-million Williamtown Aerospace Centre that covers an 89-hectare site adjoining the RAAF and Newcastle Airport. To date, the company employs more than 1,000 people in Australia, including 25 in Newcastle.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 112,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
The Corporation’s net sales for 2014 were US$45.6 billion. Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1000 people in Australia and New Zealand working on a wide range of major programmes spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.
Above: L to R- Jack Mahoney, General Manager, MST Lockheed Martin Australia; Raydon Gates, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia & New Zealand; Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews; Hon. Bob Baldwin, MP Bob Baldwin and Port Stephens Councillor Ken Jordan gather together as Minister Andrews opens Lockheed Martin’s new facilities at the Willamtown Aerospace Centre in Newcastle.
