Published Thursday, 15 February, 2007 at 01:30 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
RAYTHEON ESTABLISHES AEROSPACE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN QUEENSLAND
Queensland will boost its reputation as an aviation and aerospace powerhouse thanks to Raytheon Australia’s announcement that it will establish a new Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.
Raytheon Australia staff are part of a team of specialists responsible for keeping Australia’s F-111 and Hercules aircraft in the air.
Among the top four defence contractors in the country, Canberra-based Raytheon Australia employs some 1100 people nationwide and delivers mission systems integration and mission support for the Australian Defence Force and government.
The world-leading technology company has been offering its engineering, information technology, intelligence and surveillance support, training, logistics, and other technical and project management services, in Australia since 1999.
While visiting the Amberley RAAF base Minister for State Development John Mickel said Raytheon Australia’s decision to expand in the Smart State was made with support from the Queensland Government.
Financial support was given to the company for the relocation of staff, training and payroll tax rebates as part of the Queensland Government’s strategy to attract new investment in Queensland.
"As a result, Raytheon Australia will establish its new Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Brisbane,” Mr Mickel said.
"This is very good news for Queensland. Queensland's status as a major aviation and aerospace hub for the Asia-Pacific region was a major drawcard for Raytheon Australia when it decided to consolidate its aerospace integrated business team.
"Such an investment is yet another vote of confidence in the Smart State and its flourishing aviation and aerospace sectors which has grown by over 6,000 new jobs in Queensland since 1998."
Mr Mickel said the value of Queensland industry participation in current Australian defence projects in the aviation sector had already reached more than $900 million.
Raytheon Australia currently operates a Logistics Centre of Excellence in Brisbane, established in 2003 with support from the Queensland Government, which employs some 113 people in engineering, logistics and supply chain management.
Raytheon Australia’s Queensland operations also include aviation electronics (avionics) support that involves maintenance, repair, and logistics and engineering services for the RAAF at their workshop at Amberley.
Raytheon's new aerospace hub will focus on the defence aerospace market, including engineering, servicing, upgrade and electronics systems support for military aircraft across Australia.
Raytheon Australia Aerospace General Manager Geoff Gillespie said the Raytheon Australia Aerospace Centre of Excellence would be central to the management, development, and growth of its aerospace programs across Australia.
“We provide systems integration and mission support to defence platforms such as F-111, AP-3C (Orion), and F/A-18 (Hornet). We needed a location that could guarantee access to resources such as people, facilities, and infrastructure. Queensland, through the support of the Queensland Government, provided a low risk environment for such as decision,” Mr Gillespie said.
“Raytheon Australia gratefully acknowledges the Queensland Government's continued and proactive efforts to foster the growth of leading edge aerospace business within the State.”
Mr Mickel said Raytheon Australia’s aerospace team had been involved in a number of major projects including providing systems integration and in-service support for F/A-18 Hornet Aircrew Training System (HACTS) simulators at Williamtown near Newcastle.
“The company’s move to set up its Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Brisbane will attract new business to Queensland and expand our already impressive aerospace capabilities."
Raytheon Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company, a US-based defence, government and commercial electronics and business aviation corporation with more than 80,000 staff worldwide.
Mr Mickel said Raytheon Australia was among a host of world-leading aerospace firms with significant operations now in Queensland including Boeing, Qantas, Sikorsky, Smiths Aerospace, EADS/Australian Aerospace, BAE Systems, Virgin Blue, Pratt & Whitney (Canada).
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
15 February, 2007
Raytheon Australia staff are part of a team of specialists responsible for keeping Australia’s F-111 and Hercules aircraft in the air.
Among the top four defence contractors in the country, Canberra-based Raytheon Australia employs some 1100 people nationwide and delivers mission systems integration and mission support for the Australian Defence Force and government.
The world-leading technology company has been offering its engineering, information technology, intelligence and surveillance support, training, logistics, and other technical and project management services, in Australia since 1999.
While visiting the Amberley RAAF base Minister for State Development John Mickel said Raytheon Australia’s decision to expand in the Smart State was made with support from the Queensland Government.
Financial support was given to the company for the relocation of staff, training and payroll tax rebates as part of the Queensland Government’s strategy to attract new investment in Queensland.
"As a result, Raytheon Australia will establish its new Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Brisbane,” Mr Mickel said.
"This is very good news for Queensland. Queensland's status as a major aviation and aerospace hub for the Asia-Pacific region was a major drawcard for Raytheon Australia when it decided to consolidate its aerospace integrated business team.
"Such an investment is yet another vote of confidence in the Smart State and its flourishing aviation and aerospace sectors which has grown by over 6,000 new jobs in Queensland since 1998."
Mr Mickel said the value of Queensland industry participation in current Australian defence projects in the aviation sector had already reached more than $900 million.
Raytheon Australia currently operates a Logistics Centre of Excellence in Brisbane, established in 2003 with support from the Queensland Government, which employs some 113 people in engineering, logistics and supply chain management.
Raytheon Australia’s Queensland operations also include aviation electronics (avionics) support that involves maintenance, repair, and logistics and engineering services for the RAAF at their workshop at Amberley.
Raytheon's new aerospace hub will focus on the defence aerospace market, including engineering, servicing, upgrade and electronics systems support for military aircraft across Australia.
Raytheon Australia Aerospace General Manager Geoff Gillespie said the Raytheon Australia Aerospace Centre of Excellence would be central to the management, development, and growth of its aerospace programs across Australia.
“We provide systems integration and mission support to defence platforms such as F-111, AP-3C (Orion), and F/A-18 (Hornet). We needed a location that could guarantee access to resources such as people, facilities, and infrastructure. Queensland, through the support of the Queensland Government, provided a low risk environment for such as decision,” Mr Gillespie said.
“Raytheon Australia gratefully acknowledges the Queensland Government's continued and proactive efforts to foster the growth of leading edge aerospace business within the State.”
Mr Mickel said Raytheon Australia’s aerospace team had been involved in a number of major projects including providing systems integration and in-service support for F/A-18 Hornet Aircrew Training System (HACTS) simulators at Williamtown near Newcastle.
“The company’s move to set up its Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Brisbane will attract new business to Queensland and expand our already impressive aerospace capabilities."
Raytheon Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company, a US-based defence, government and commercial electronics and business aviation corporation with more than 80,000 staff worldwide.
Mr Mickel said Raytheon Australia was among a host of world-leading aerospace firms with significant operations now in Queensland including Boeing, Qantas, Sikorsky, Smiths Aerospace, EADS/Australian Aerospace, BAE Systems, Virgin Blue, Pratt & Whitney (Canada).
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
15 February, 2007