New mega 737 maintenance and modification facility in SA

Work has begun on building a giant four-bay aircraft hangar in northern Adelaide to facilitate the specialist maintenance of the Australian Defence Force’s Boeing 737 range of military aircraft.

FILE PHOTO: A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail. Photo by Flying Officer Bronwyn Marchant.

The $200-million project is a joint investment by the Federal and SA governments and will be built on State land adjacent to Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh.

At 240 metre long, 60 metre wide and 25 metre high, the four-bay hangar is almost 50 per cent longer than Adelaide Oval.

Construction will be overseen by the SA State government.

The Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility will enable the long-term deep maintenance and modification of the Australian Defence Force’s fleet of 737-sized aircraft – including P8-A maritime patrol aircraft and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.

Construction has already commenced and is forecast to be completed by mid-2026.

Once complete, the operational facility will enhance Australia’s sovereign capabilities and enable maintenance and modifications to be carried out in Australia rather than sending the planes offshore.

BESIX Watpac is leading the design and construction of the facility that will include the four-bay aircraft hangar, offices, workshops, stores, amenities areas and plant rooms.

The new 2.1-hectare purpose-built facility will be built on a 16-hectare parcel of land owned by the South Australian government with a tow-way to connect the project area to RAAF base Edinburgh.

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said this $200-million, state-of-the-art facility will mean Australian aircraft will be maintained by Australian workers to keep RAAF aircraft safely in the skies for years to come. 

South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan said the SA State government had a proud history of directly investing in infrastructure to grow defence industry and this project would see South Australia become the home of aircraft maintenance for this part of the RAAF fleet. 

“For the first time, because of our investment, the Australian Defence Force will be able to modify and maintain its fleet of Boeing military aircraft on Australian soil,” Mr Mullighan said. 

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