Strong industry interest bolsters Western Defence Forge plan
Assessment process now underway to inform future development opportunities and identify potential anchor tenants.
The proposed new Western Australian defence and advanced manufacturing hub has been oversubscribed with Expressions of Interest (EOI) from companies wanting to take part in the nationally significant industrial and defence project, Western Defence Forge (WDF).
The WDF EOI process received 179 submissions from businesses across nine nations, including 28 international companies, including 13 international defence primes, 20 Australian companies, and 118 WA-based SMEs, demonstrating strong industry interest in establishing and expanding sovereign capability in Western Australia.
The submissions span a broad range of strategic capability areas including:
- Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance, energetics, and munitions manufacturing;
- autonomous and uncrewed systems across air, land, and maritime domains;
- space systems, satellite manufacturing, and space-based intelligence capabilities;
- advanced manufacturing, robotics, and additive manufacturing;
- defence electronics, sensors, communications, and digital engineering;
- maritime sustainment, naval systems, and propulsion technologies;
- critical minerals, advanced materials, and sovereign industrial inputs; and
- defence logistics, testing, evaluation, certification, and workforce development.
The submissions will be considered by government to inform future infrastructure, industry, and job opportunities in the hub.
The WDF will assist WA businesses to secure work on major defence and advanced manufacturing projects, creating new opportunities in emerging technologies, exports, and global supply chains.
By connecting local companies with national and international customers, it will support business growth, innovation, and strengthen WA's role in strategically important industries.
The WDF will create highly skilled jobs across engineering, manufacturing, technology, and trades, while attracting long-term investment and strengthening WA's local capability to manufacture, maintain, and support complex defence products and technologies.
The EOI process will assist the government in determining the best place for the WDF to be located. While Collie is being considered, other locations may also be well placed to support large-scale advanced manufacturing through existing industrial land, energy infrastructure, and access to a skilled workforce.
