The PRIME destination for defence
manufacturing, supply and sustainment
opportunities in regional Australia.
From aerospace to land, maritime, space and cyber/information technologies, the Greater Hunter Region is a hub of national significance for defence support, supply and sustainment.
Hunter Defence represents and connects companies competing for prime and supply chain contracts. The Hunter Defence Task Force is focused on demonstrating the capability of Hunter-based defence industry suppliers nationally and internationally, as well as upskilling local SMEs to become ‘Defence ready’.
Strategically positioned in proximity to the multi-nodal transport infrastructures of Sydney and Newcastle with established R&D facilities and a highly experienced, high-skills workforce ready for immediate deployment, the Hunter Valley is ideally situated for companies and enterprises of any size seeking to contribute to the sustained development of Australia’s defence capabilities.
Australia’s largest regional economy and home to almost 60,000 businesses
Home to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and numerous defence-based primes
Closely integrated with major air, rail, road and port infrastructures
Highly trained high-skilled and experienced local workforce
Home to a world top 175 university, multiple TAFEs and RTOs
Enviable lifestyle near world class beaches, national parks and vineyards
Download the Hunter Defence capability brochure,
The Hunter: A Defence Ready Region, and see the full scope of what’s possible for your defence initiatives.
A wealth of defence knowledge.
A world of strategic opportunity.
Hunter Defence represents over 100 companies in the Hunter Region in support of their defence prime and supply chain goals, helping them articulate their value propositions and capabilities to government and major defence stakeholders.
See what Hunter Defence – and regional NSW – can contribute to your objectives.
Returning to the Hunter Valley in August, this nationally recognised event will bring together over 220 defence, industry, and government leaders to explore the forces reshaping Australia’s strategic future.
Statements from Hunter Defence Conference 2023
The Hunter Defence Conference is a fantastic forum for industry leaders to cross-collaborate and share insights. The conference provides a pivotal platform for Hunter based SME’s to work closely with defence primes, assisting to build long-term relationships within the defence industry. Newcastle Airport and Astra Aerolab are excited to work with both local SME’s and multi-national primes to provide research and development facilities, office accommodation and an innovative hub, assisting in driving the success of the Hunter based defence industry.
It is a fabulous ecosystem here in the Hunter, from university research right through to smart manufacturing: It does a great job supporting our nation's defence.
It's wonderful to be able to bring all your industry participants together here on an annual basis to talk about the challenges we face in the defence space.
The Hunter Defence Conference is the only regional defence conference in Australia that brings Primes and SMEs together for a real opportunity to network in the Defence Industry space.
The latest intelligence on events, announcements, trends and developments in the Hunter Region and in Australia’s defence industry.
The annual Defence + Industry (D+I) Conference returns in 2025 with a full-day program featuring thought-provoking presentations and live Q&A panels from senior Defence and industry leaders. The conference will explore current priorities, challenges, and collaboration across Defence’s capability acquisition and sustainment space.
Hunter Defence, in partnership with BAE Systems Australia, is delivering the Navigating Defence Series that will equip participants with the expertise needed to navigate the more complex aspects of supplying to the defence sector. Presented by BAE Systems’ Global Access Program, the topics will include Working with Primes, Estimating and Pricing, Supplier Quality Assurance, and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP). The course content is suitable for both existing supply chain partners and businesses seeking to offer products or services to the defence sector in the future.
The Hunter Defence Conference is AUSTRALIA’S LEADING REGIONAL DEFENCE EVENT where you can meet the people who are meeting the challenges of a rapidly evolving defence landscape.
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Hunter Defence acknowledges that it operates on the grounds of the traditional country of the Awabakal, Darkinyung, Geawegal, Wonnarua, and Worimi peoples.
We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing relationship with the land, and that they are the proud survivors of more than two hundred years of dispossession.
Hunter Defence is proud to provide continued assistance to charities in support of local veterans.
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