A hi-tech defence hub will play a crucial role in strengthening Australia's sovereign defence capability as security threats rise around the world.
Defence Minister Richard Marles opened Saab's state-of-the-art Sovereign Combat Systems Collaboration Centre at its expanded Australian headquarters in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Saab and its partners will use the facility, which has more than 1000 staff, to undertake software development, systems integration, testing and prototyping.
The company's Australia managing director Andy Keough said increased volatility and uncertainty in the global environment "is one thing we can be certain of".
"Given that uncertainty, it's absolutely crucial that we have sovereign capability here in Australia to make sure that we can look after our security and safety as best we can," he said.
The $90 million centre is the key hub in the development of a sustainable combat systems industry that enables the timely development and deployment of capabilities to respond to emerging threats.
Mr Marles said the facility would enable Saab to work much more closely with research partners and the Royal Australian Navy to develop and integrate combat system capabilities.
"In many respects, they are the brains behind Australia's naval capability," he said.
"(When I arrived here), I sat at a console system which will be on the upgraded Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, but that same console system is going to be on navy vessels in Germany, in Finland, in Bulgaria, in Colombia, and it will be there as an Australian export."
A core component of the centre's work is developing AusCMS, Australia's sovereign combat management system that allows the navy to independently adapt its capabilities through the adoption of evolving and disruptive technologies.
