HUNTER manufacturer Varley Group is handing over the first two units of a major RAAF defence contract at its Tomago facility on Monday.
The two F-35 deployable facilities have been manufactured here as part of a $37.5-million contract that is supporting some 20 new jobs in the region.
Representatives of the F-35 manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, will be onsite at Tomago on Monday morning to take part in a handover ceremony.
There are 29 units all up in the contract, which was announced midway through last year.
“The deployable facilities manufactured in Tomago provide transportable, secure and environmentally-controlled workspaces for ADF personnel to operate information support systems for the F-35 and other Air Force platforms around the world,” a Varley spokesperson said.
Last year, Lockheed Martin Australia chief executive Vince Di Pietro said companies such as Varley were an important part of this country’s manufacturing capacity.
“We know that investing in local Australian enterprises, particularly those involved in advanced manufacturing, will transform our local and international industry,” Mr Di Pietro said.
“Varley has been a proven performer on our F-35 program and further expanding this partnership gives us the local skills and expertise to improve our support to [the Department of] Defence.”
Ian Kirkwood
Reporting journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1987. Editorial writer, general reporter, industrial relations, industry and coal.
Reporting journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1987. Editorial writer, general reporter, industrial relations, industry and coal.
