The WA trade mission will largely be focused on replacing Collins-class subs (above) with Virginia-class subs. Photo: Royal Australian Navy/Facebook.
As part of the Western Australian Government’s Made in WA plan, Minister for Defence Industries and Veterans Paul Papalia has travelled to the United States to spruik the state’s defence industry.
The trade mission seeks to create new ties with US defence companies in an effort to support WA jobs.
The Minister will visit the southern state of Alabama as well as Connecticut and Washington, DC, while WA businesses will attend the Sea Air Space Exposition in Maryland. The expo brings together key leaders from defence industries and militaries from around the world to share technology and innovation.
WA’s defence strengths will be on display as the trade mission brings together small-to-medium enterprises with military-industrial complex heavyweights.
Defence is set to become WA’s second-largest industry after natural resources as the government seeks to diversify the economy. The Federal Government has already invested tens of billions of dollars to create the Henderson Defence Precinct, enhancing the facilities at HMAS Stirling, continuing shipbuilding enterprises and working towards the nuclear submarine program.
With the AUKUS agreement, the state will become a naval hub but the government is seeking to bring smaller defence businesses into the field to fast-track construction of the submarines, which are to be built in the US.
“WA’s defence industry has the potential to strengthen Australia’s relationship with the US through its world-class workforces,” Mr Papalia said.
“Our local businesses can help fast-track the construction of Virginia-class submarines – that’s good for us and our AUKUS partners.”
While components of the submarines are already made in WA, the trade mission seeks to establish stronger links with US defence companies so that the western state can become a larger part of the Virginia-class construction supply chain.
“The purpose of this mission is to showcase our defence strengths on the global stage and build relationships to help our businesses enter the Virginia-class supply chain in the US,” Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia said.
