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INDUSTRY PROFILES > Aerospace and Defence

Aerospace and Defence

NSW is home to Australia’s largest and most diverse economy and is a national leader in aerospace operations and innovation. It offers a highly attractive location for aerospace companies looking to establish an Asia Pacific base to service global supply chains.
Many innovative NSW aerospace companies are playing active roles in global defence and commercial aviation supply chains, including for state-of-the-art aircraft such as Airbus A380, Boeing 787 and the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Major aerospace companies operating in NSW include BAE Systems, Boeing Australia, Eurocopter, Hawker de Havilland, Hawker Pacific, Lockheed Martin, Qantas Defence Services, Raytheon and Turbomeca.

These industry-leading companies are supported by close to 200 specialist NSW businesses that are involved in aerospace related design, manufacturing and air transport services. The capability of the NSW aerospace industry is diverse, reflecting the broad and strong industrial base of the state.

Key industry strengths include:

  • design and analysis
  • education and training, including pilot and engineering training
  • manufacture of airframes, components and ground support equipment
  • maintenance, repair and overhaul
  • multi-platform test solutions
  • simulation
  • systems development, engineering and avionics
  • aviation tooling.

The NSW aerospace industry is spread throughout key industry clusters across the state, including Western Sydney, the Hunter, Illawarra, Tamworth and Nowra, and is often strategically located around key defence assets. NSW two-way trade in aerospace products topped $1.3 billion in 2006–07.

Major trade partners include the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Japan, Italy, and China.

For more information, please see the NSW aerospace industry growth profile and visit the NSW aerospace industry directory


For more information

Industry Division | +61 2 9338 6600 | dsrdaerospace@business.nsw.gov.au