CANBERRA — The Australian Department of Defence has awarded a A$250,000 ($167,000) grant to Australian Aerospace Engineering (AAE) to scale up maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) infrastructure at its new facility in Albury, New South Wales.
Funded through the Defence Industry Development Grants program, the capital supported the installation of specialized equipment across AAE’s 1,900-square-meter footprint, enhancing regional manufacturing, engineering, and aviation sustainment capabilities.
Following the expansion, AAE secured placement on Lockheed Martin Australia’s approved MRO network and component supplier list, integrating the regional SME directly into primary defense supply chains.
Deal Summary
| Field | Details |
| Recipient | Australian Aerospace Engineering (AAE) |
| Grant Program | Defence Industry Development Grants (DIDG) |
| Awarding Body | Australian Department of Defence |
| Grant Value | A$250,000 (~$167,000 USD) |
| Facility Location | Albury, New South Wales (1,900 sq meters) |
| Primary Scope | Aerospace MRO infrastructure, manufacturing & supply chain integration |
| Strategic Alignment | 2026 Defence Industry Development Strategy |
The investment aligns with Canberra’s broader strategy to expand sovereign industrial capabilities, ensuring regional defense contractors can support Australian Defence Force (ADF) aviation requirements over extended operational timelines.
