While opening the D2EC in Melbourne, Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne, congratulated L3 on the latest contract and praised its ongoing expansion efforts in Australia.

"This contract will see 28 jobs created in Australia while allowing L3 to package a range of their maritime solutions together, providing further growth and opportunities for local Australian companies," Minister Pyne said.

"L3 Technologies has a long history of working with the Australian Defence Force to deliver a range of capabilities, and have made vital contributions to our Collins Class Submarines and Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ships," Minister Pyne said.

"L3 have been expanding in Australia, growing by 30 per cent since mid-2017. That’s a great vote of confidence in the Turnbull government’s $200 billion investment in capabilities for our Defence forces."

"Their brand new expanded Defence Design and Engineering Centre will enable this relationship to continue and grow, collaborating and innovating with local universities and SMEs, and I congratulate them on the opening today."

L3 is expecting to continue its expansion efforts across Australia and is anticipating to grow its existing capabilities in South Australia and Western Australia. It is also expecting to hire a dozen new employees at its new Melbourne D2EC by this winter.