The air force’s new $200 million deep repairs hub is now open in South Australia amid plans for it to serve a regional role for other militaries.
The deep maintenance hub at RAAF Base Edinburgh will be used to keep Australian and New Zealand surveillance aircraft flying via upgrades and repairs.
The opening of the 240-metre building was attended by Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.
“This facility is a critical investment in Australia’s ability to maintain and sustain key capabilities for our Defence Force at home,” Marles says.
“By embedding deep maintenance and upgrade work for the P-8A Poseidon fleet in Australia, we are strengthening sovereign capability, improving force readiness, and reducing reliance on overseas sustainment.”
He also points out that a skilled defence workforce and industrial base will be needed to carry out the air force work.
Malinauskas says the new facility “is a major milestone” for the defence industry and will create aerospace jobs for his state.
“Students at The Heights Technical College will graduate not only with their high school certificate and an in-demand trade qualification; they will be able to walk straight into a highly-skilled career in aero skills at this new facility,” he says.
Boeing Australia has become an employer partner of the college with more than 20 students now studying to become aircraft maintenance technicians and engineers.
SA Defence Minister Chris Picton says local employment will benefit.
“Previously these planes were sent offshore for maintenance and upgrades; now South Australians will be performing this work,” he says.
BOOST FOR NZ AIR FORCE
It is reportedly the largest base in the Southern Hemisphere and will house extensive repairs on the RAAF’s Boeing 737-based P-8 Poseidon aircraft as well as New Zealand’s four aircraft.
The building, with its four-bay hangers, will also be able to house other aircraft like the B737-based E-3 Wedgetail for deep maintenance and modification; the Royal New Zealand Air Force says it will send its aircraft to the base from 2028, the Defence Department says.
Construction took two years and created around 450 jobs with more than half of the structural steel coming from the Whyalla Steelworks.
The P-8A Poseidon is Australia’s main anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and rescue aircraft. In March 2025, a $291m deal was signed with Boeing Australia to upgrade its 13-strong Poseidon fleet; the first two are being modified by the US Navy but the others will modified at the new SA plant.
South Australia’s defence industry generated a record $2.015 billion in economic activity last financial year compared to $977m in 2019-20, the state government says.
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