Saab Australia has marked the sod turning of its Queensland expansion and the establishment of a facility that will become the base of operations for support of the ADF's deployable health capability (DHC) program under JP 2060.
Saab Australia Managing Director, Andy Keough, said that the expansion marks both the continued growth of Saab’s national operations and the establishment of an increased presence in Queensland.
“We are proud to be leading the provision of DHC to the nation," Keough said. "Our newest site will see the creation of a number of new Australian jobs, development of new infrastructure and further growth of the region’s defence industry.
“This is the first major milestone in Saab’s delivery of life-saving deployable military and humanitarian hospitals to support our Defence Force personnel. The program will not only save lives, but will support local businesses across the nation, boosting Australia’s sovereign defence capability."
The $370 million JP 2060 contract was signed with the Department of Defence last year.
The facility will deliver and provide through life support to 550 deployable health modules. It has been designed to include specialist medical technician facilities, maintenance workshops, training and storage facilities, as well as outdoor exercise space to enable the ADF operational medical teams to gain familiarisation with equipment.