Stephen Kuper

It comes after Lockheed Martin beat Northrop Grumman last year to win the $765 million contract to revolutionise how Australia monitors and shoots down incoming missiles.

Australia will be the 18th nation to operate the Apache as its attack helicopter, joining a fleet of more than 1,280 operating worldwide.

AIR6500 will deliver four advanced air-defence radars, manufactured by Canberra-based CEA Technologies, with the first delivery expected later this year.

The first two aircraft to undergo the ‘Increment 3’ modification will be upgraded in Jacksonville, Florida, with the remainder of the fleet of 12 to be completed at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia.

Located at CSIRO’s Lab22 facility, the new, state-of-the-art Nikon SLM-280 will be able to print metals side-by-side in one continuous print, enabling the precision manufacture of more affordable aerospace components.

The program of works includes the upgrade or rebuild of infrastructure and facilities at the base in North Queensland.