BRITISH AEROSPACE has launched a new expansion strategy in Australia which will include "a programme of mergers and acquisitions" designed to strengthen the UK group's presence in the market.
BAe admits that its "immediate focus" is to secure an order for its Hawk 100 as a new lead-in fighter aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force. The broader aim is to help build "...greater critical mass in target markets and to diversify into new-product ranges or major development programmes, either alone or through partnerships".
Backing up the strategy, Robin Southwell has been appointed to the newly created position of group chief executive, BAe Australia Holdings. Southwell has moved to Australia after his success as managing director of the group's Asset Management Organisation in putting the BAe 146 fleet back in the air.
His new role, based in Sydney, is to expand BAe's Australian manufacturing capability and product support. The Australian subsidiary also says that it plans to "...increase substantially its activities as an exporter of high-technology items".
BAe Australia is now involved in defence manufacturing and is a joint-venture partner with Ansett Australia in the Australian Air Academy, a major flying training establishment at Tamworth in New South Wales.
Source: Flight International