Defence and Security
Defence and security are among Canberra’s largest industry sectors.
It comprises the Department of Defence and various national security agencies - plus private businesses that provide products and services to these agencies - and a number of other defence related institutions. It also includes garrison support, professional services and major capital equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
The Department of Defence has one of the largest budgets of any Australian Government agency at around A$25 billion for the financial year 2009–10. Approximately 15 per cent, or A$4 billion of this, is indirectly spent within the Canberra economy. There are over 13,000 military and defence-civilian personnel working in Canberra and the region, or about 14 per cent of the nation’s defence employment.
Canberra is also home to Australia’s leading military college—the Royal Military College (RMC) at Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). The Australian National University also hosts the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
Other Canberra-based defence and security agencies include:
- The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
- The Australian Secret Intelligence Service
- The Defence Signals Directorate
- The Office of National Assessments.
Canberra’s defence and security sector is of vital importance to the local economy and there are significant opportunities for private sector companies to participate in its future development.
Case Study: CEA Technologies
CEA Technologies was founded in 1983 by two ex Royal Australian Navy Officers, David Gaul and Ian Croser. They have built CEA into a company that has an annual turnover of A$50 million and employs more than 260 staff.
Based in Canberra, CEA specialises in the design, development and manufacture of advanced radar and communications solutions supplying civil and military systems into land, maritime and air environments. Having its head office in Canberra has provided CEA with excellent access to the Department of Defence, its related agencies and decision makers.
CEA's product range includes wideband antenna systems, scalable active phased array radar for surveillance and missile fire control applications, maritime integrated communications systems and harbour and coastal surveillance systems.
The company remains at the forefront of innovation, continually working to develop the next generation of radar and communication systems. CEA is committed to both customer service and research and development, ensuring the highest quality solutions and support for its customers. CEA's commitment to its products was demonstrated when it recently announced the development of a A$20 million scientific research facility in Canberra.
CEA has commenced land based trials of the first of eight phased array radar systems the company is building for installation in the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac Class frigates. The sophisticated radars are software-based and can track multiple targets, such as incoming missiles and hostile aircraft, simultaneously. To be installed with CEA's radar target illuminator, the ANZAC Class ships will be among the first warships to have fully digital radar sytems.
Its growing workforce is representative of CEA's accomplishments over the past 27 years. With offices in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and San Diego, the company is an active participant in both domestic and international markets. Its success creates flow-on work benefits for other local and regional companies and further reinforces the ACT's reputation as a designer and supplier of competitive leading edge technologies to defence, government and industry.
The company now successfully exports to the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Pacific countries. Both co-founders have been recognised extensively for their outstanding industry contributions and excellence in their individual fields. David Gaul was recently named national champion of the Australian export community.
For further information contact:
www.cea.com.au
www.business.act.gov.au
Phone Canberra Connect:
1800 244 650 (Australia)
+61 13 2281 (International)
