BAE Systems Australia breaks ground on new Adelaide-based Defence HQ

The new 11-storey development will serve as BAE Systems Australia’s national headquarters and position the company alongside Adelaide University and a growing concentration of Commonwealth and South Australian defence organisations, further strengthening the city’s status as one of Australia’s premier defence and technology hubs.

Around 500 BAE Systems employees will ultimately be based at the new headquarters, overseeing some of Australia’s most significant defence capability programs, including the delivery of the SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine enterprise, construction of the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter Class frigates, and the company’s over-the-horizon radar portfolio in both Australia and Canada.

BAE Systems Australia chief executive Craig Lockhart said the new headquarters reflected both the company’s deep roots in South Australia and its confidence in the state’s future as Australia’s sovereign defence industrial powerhouse.

“For more than 70 years, we have been delivering sovereign defence capability from our South Australian operations. This new headquarters will oversee major defence programs that will help protect Australians for decades to come,” Lockhart said.

The relocation also reinforces BAE Systems Australia’s longstanding partnership with the South Australian government, supporting continued investment in sovereign defence capability, advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding and critical technology sectors across the state.

He said establishing the company’s national headquarters in Adelaide reinforced its strong partnership with the South Australian government while creating a modern workplace capable of attracting and retaining the highly skilled workforce needed to support Australia’s expanding defence industry.

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“We expect to recruit around 1,300 employees during 2026, with approximately 80 per cent of those roles across engineering, trades and advanced manufacturing. That recruitment rate is expected to continue for at least the next three to five years, with the majority of those new positions based here in South Australia,” Lockhart said.

As Australia’s largest defence company, BAE Systems employs more than 7,000 people across more than 40 locations nationwide, delivering capabilities spanning maritime, aerospace, cyber, autonomous systems, electronic warfare, and high-frequency surveillance.

According to Lockhart, the workforce expansion will be critical to building Australia’s sovereign industrial capability under the AUKUS partnership, while supporting the growing shipbuilding workforce at Osborne.

While maintaining a significant customer-facing presence in Canberra, the company continues to expand its South Australian operations, including major facilities at Osborne Naval Shipyard, Edinburgh Parks and Tonsley.

“The recruitment program will establish the talent pipeline required for Australia’s SSN-AUKUS workforce, alongside around 2,800 employees supporting shipbuilding and surface ship sustainment activities at Osborne by 2028,” he said.

The move into Lot Fourteen places BAE Systems at the heart of one of Australia’s fastest-growing innovation ecosystems. The precinct is already home to more than 160 technology companies, alongside government agencies and research organisations focused on defence, space, cyber security, and critical technologies.

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.