Port Macquarie’s Birdon wins big in US defence market






Port Macquarie boat manufacturer and maritime engineering firm Birdon has won more than $700 million worth of new contracts in three months, including two contract wins in the United States.

The company, which delivered its 100th bridge erection boat (pictured) to the US Army in December, announced US$390 million ($575 million) in new army and Coast Guard contracts.

The first contract worth $281 million will see the company upgrade the coast guard fleet of 47-foot motor lifeboat vessels.

This 10-year contract will see 107 MLBs upgraded.

The second contract worth $294 million is a five-year extension to its original contract to supply BEBs.

Birdon will now deliver 435 BEBs to field locations in the US, Germany, Korea, Kuwait and Puerto Rico.

“Combined with Australian contracts secured in the past three months, the US deals have seen Birdon’s confirmed business pipeline surge over $700 million and position it as a rapidly emerging force,” the company said.

Birdon CEO Jamie Bruce said Birdon was moving from strength to strength in the UUS.

“We are proud that these significant maritime contracts, won in the world’s most competitive defence procurement markets will be overseen from our headquarters in Port Macquarie.

“Birdon is now a global business with enduring roots in Port Macquarie, and that;s good for the local economy.”

Birdon America has grown to 100 employees, who complete an average of 3 BEBs and 10 water jet propulsion systems each month.

Picture: Birdon

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