Lockheed Martin to open $8m Melbourne ICT engineering centre

Lockheed Martin Australia (LHA) has announced plans to open an Asia Pacific ICT engineering centre in Melbourne, which will lead to the creation of 150 jobs over the next five years.

The $8 million Centre of Excellence for Defence will be used by LHA to secure Australian federal government contracts and contracts with governments in South Asia and the Middle East.

LMA currently employs 900 people in Australia and New Zealand in the aerospace and defence sectors.

According to LMA CEO Raydon Gates, the company chose Melbourne for the centre because of Victoria’s universities and availability of engineering talent.

Victorian Technology Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips said LMA already has 150 people based in two Melbourne facilities, which provide services to the Department of Defence such as software development.

“LMA’s APAC ICT engineering hub will enhance Melbourne’s reputation as the location of choice for global defence companies while strengthening LMA’s regional capability,” he said in a statement.

“Seven Victorian-based companies are also delivering components and support for Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter program.”

The program was started by the United States Department of Defense to define affordable next generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the US Navy, Air Force, Marines and allies including Australia.

LMA in September was revealed as the lead contractor for the Australian Department of Defence’s data centre consolidation program.

The project involves consolidating the department’s data centres from 280 to 14 (11 on-shore and three overseas) and will be worth a total of $800 million over eight years.

Follow Hamish Barwick on Twitter: @HamishBarwick

Follow CIO Australia on Twitter and Like us on Facebook… Twitter: @CIO_Australia, Facebook: CIO Australia, or take part in the CIO conversation on LinkedIn: CIO Australia