Defence to build Poseidon and Wedgetail maintenance hangar at RAAF Base Edinburgh

Defence has begun work on building a four-bay aircraft hangar adjacent to RAAF Base Edinburgh in northern Adelaide. This will facilitate the specialist maintenance of the Australian Defence Force’s 20 Boeing 737-variant military aircraft. Construction has already commenced and is forecast to be completed in mid-2026.

The 240 metre long, 60 metre wide, 25 metre high Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility will be built in a $200 million partnership between the federal government and the government of South Australia.

The project will enable the long-term deep maintenance and modification of up to four aircraft at once from the RAAF’s fleet of Boeing 737-based aircraft – 14 P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and 6 E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.

“This $200 million, state of the art facility will allow us to maintain, repair and overhaul RAAF aircraft in north Adelaide, reducing our reliance on offshore maintenance services,” according to the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy. “It means Australian aircraft will be maintained by Australian workers, using their skills to keep RAAF aircraft safely in the skies for years to come.

“The P-8 Poseidon aircraft and the Wedgetail aircraft are critical to the defence of the nation, but until this facility is complete we need to send these aircraft to the United States for deep level maintenance [and] modification,” he added. “By doing this work in Australia the work will be done faster, it will be done cheaper, and we will get more sovereignty and independence for Australia because we won’t have to send the work overseas.”

“This project will see our state become the home of aircraft maintenance for this part of the RAAF fleet,” said Stephen Mullighan, South Australia’s Minister for the defence and S[ace Industries. “Because of our investment, for the first time, the Defence Force will be able to modify and maintain its fleet of Boeing military aircraft on Australian soil.”

BESIX Watpac is leading the design and construction of the hangar 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 the 16-hectare parcel of land owned by the South Australian Government with a tow-way to connect the project area to RAAF base Edinburgh.