The city is home to BAE Systems Australia’s Cairns Capability Hub that bolsters some of the country’s leading maritime defence programs.
The capability hub’s multiskilled workforce helps to deliver these nationwide programs from the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and this is what they had to say…
Engineering Services team
BAE Systems has had a presence in Cairns since 2001 and helped to sustain maritime capabilities in the region such as the Landing Craft Heavy In-service Support (LCHISS) and Hydrographic In-Service Support (HISS) programs. In 2023, the site transitioned to the Cairns Capability Hub to become more efficient at meeting the requirements of an evolving defence landscape. Engineering Services sits across multiple programs and the team provides all-round support to the wider business.
Technical Services Lead Micheal says, “No two days are ever the same and because the workload is so varied, it keeps my job fresh. We are a specialist team that provides background support for the programs that are under the pump and need an extra hand.
“Around a quarter of the people here at the capability hub are ex-service people. The office is quite social and we’re always getting involved in good causes, like donating blood/plasma and volunteering for Legacy Australia events. One thing I’m particularly fond of is doing the veteran marches.”
Hunter Class Frigate Program (HCFP)
Under construction at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, the Hunter class will be among the most advanced anti-submarine frigates the world has ever seen.
Professional Engineer Peter says, “The Cairns team work on many aspects of the HCFP, including project management, engineering and Integrated Logistic Support.
“The capability hub is a great collaboration environment. Many people work across many different programs and because most of us have known and worked closely with each other for many years, the result is an open and supportive environment. This means we can easily bounce ideas off each other to get to a better solution faster.
“I’m also keen about mentoring and passing on my knowledge to the younger team members both in the HCFP and across programs in Cairns. The capability hub gives me opportunities to do this.”
Guided Missile Destroyers: Capability Life Cycle Manager (CLCM)
As the CLCM, BAE Systems sustains the Royal Australian Navy’s three Hobart class destroyers (DDGs), which provide air defence, surface and undersea warfare and surveillance capabilities. Alongside other industry partners, the company also plays a key role in the Destroyer Enterprise and will be upgrading the vessels at Osborne in Adelaide.
“I first moved to Cairns to undertake my studies and this provided me with the opportunity to remotely support the DDG sustainment program in Sydney,” Graduate Electronics Engineer Timothy says.
“I’m part of a small and tightknit team here that was created not too long ago. We cover multiple engineering disciplines and we play to each other’s strengths that way. For example, when someone has a question, everyone is happy to help out regardless of the project they’re working on. And together we’ll arrive at a solution, learn something new in the process and become more well-rounded knowledge wise.”
JORN – Jindalee Operational Radar Network
JORN is a cutting edge Over-The-Horizon Radar (OTHR) network that provides wide-area sea and air surveillance monitoring of Australia’s northern approaches.
Business Transition Lead Cameron says, “From the Cairns Capability Hub we support many JORN Sustainment activities including those conducted at remote radar sites located near Longreach (Queensland), Laverton (Western Australia) and Alice Springs (Northern Territory). The team comes from an array of varying backgrounds with differing program knowledge and experiences which brings new perspectives and ideas to the table. It’s created a great working environment”.
“Having a JORN presence here in Cairns is an advantage. The majority of Australia’s OTHR expertise is based in South Australia. Cairns offers a new location to support up-and-coming project managers, engineers and functional specialists to sustain and develop the country’s OTHR and High Frequency Sensing capabilities further.”
Now playing a multi-program support role, the Cairns Capability Hub is just one of BAE Systems Maritime Australia’s sites that’s mobilising to increase aid for the Commonwealth of Australia’s 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan. This is part of the company’s commitment to meet the country’s current and future Maritime industry requirements, as well as developing a truly nationwide capability.