Construction begins at maintenance site for Defence’s 737 aircraft

Work has begun on a four-bay hangar for the maintenance of Australian Defence Force’s Boeing 737 variants, with completion scheduled for mid-2026.

The a 240-metre long, 60-metre wide, 25-metre high hangar will be used for specialist maintenance on aircraft including the P8-A maritime patrol aircraft and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. 

Design and construction of the $200 million Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility is being led by BESIX Watpac. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the State Government for the first time to deliver the DMMF project – drawing on our extensive experience in delivering aviation and defence projects in South Australia,” said Mark Baker, CEO at BESIX.

The facility is being built on a 16-hectare parcel of land owned by the SA government. A tow-way will link the project area to RAAF base Edinburgh.

According to a statement from federal defence industry minister Pat Conroy, 450 construction jobs are forecast during the two-year build, with 50 ongoing jobs after that. It will allow staff to carry out maintenance on aircraft onshore rather than this being done overseas.

“It means Australian aircraft will be maintained by Australian workers, using their skills to keep RAAF aircraft safely in the skies for years to come,” said Conroy.

Picture: a render of the facility (credit Renewal SA)