Victoria will be the site of a new cutting-edge facility that will create highly skilled jobs and leverage the state’s strong industrial capabilities, and global defense giant Saab will expand its local influence.
The Minister of Economic Development Tim Pallas today opened Saab Australia’s new system integration and support center, which will create 50 new jobs and help promote Victoria’s economic recovery.
The joint investment between the Andrews Labor Government and Saab will continue to promote the company’s development in Victoria and strengthen its contribution to industry-leading defense projects.
The center will become Saab’s integrated communications system center in the Asia-Pacific region-creating a series of software and systems engineering roles and significantly expanding the company’s capabilities.
This move will involve moving the company’s global deployable health care center of excellence from Sweden to Victoria – leveraging the state’s technological infrastructure and skilled workforce.
This investment will also enable Saab to transfer technology and intellectual property to Victoria, while creating opportunities for Victorian supply chain companies.
Saab Australia was established in 1987 to build and develop Australia’s defense capabilities. It currently has approximately 560 employees nationwide, of which 45 are in Victoria.
The company has contributed to major defense projects including the ANZAC-class frigate, and has been announced as the main partner of the SEA 5000 and SEA 1180 naval projects and the deployable health module joint project 2060.
Victoria’s defense department contributes up to US$8.4 billion to the state’s economy each year, directly and indirectly employs approximately 36,000 people and supports thousands of businesses.
Quote from Tim Pallas, Minister of Economic Development
“Investments like this are critical to our economic recovery-promoting innovation, increasing local supply chain opportunities and creating jobs in the defense sector.”
“This pioneering work will also develop the skills of local experts and make Victoria a world leader in the industry.”
The quotation belongs to Andy Keough, managing director of Saab Australia
“For more than ten years, Saab has a small office and team in Melbourne, but this joint investment will expand our footprint in Melbourne to achieve the delivery of major new defense projects and continuous service support for Australian Defense Force equipment. ”
