Boeing’s Loyal Wingman drone to be built at Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct

The project is expected to bring about $1 billion to the region, provide hundreds of jobs and put Toowoomba on the map as epicentre of aerospace manufacturing in Australia.

TOOWOOMBA has been named the preferred site to design and build military aircraft in Australia for the first time in 50 years, bringing with it hi-tech jobs and long-term economic benefits.

The Loyal Wingman drone - an unmanned defence aircraft - is in the final stages of development with Boeing waiting on the Federal Government to place its first order before building its hi-tech assembly plant at the Wagner Corporation’s Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct.

Boeing Defence Australia managing director Scott Carpendale said he was confident the Federal Government would place an order soon, moving the project into the production phase.

“To support that, we will need a production facility in the middle of this decade, so that is the time frame we are working towards,” he said.

“We don’t have a confirmed order now, but there is every indication that they are very happy and very confident with the capability that the aircraft provides, we are very confident we are going to get to that point.”

Boeing Defence Australia Vice President and Managing Director Scott Carpendale. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The Loyal Wingman drone will have a range of more than 3700 kilometres and is designed to support crewed aircraft.

It will carry a range of autonomous and artificial intelligence systems to help Royal Australian Air Force pilots find and attack targets while fulfilling their legal and ethical responsibilities.

Mr Carpendale said how the system would be used in combat and what sort of weapons it would carry would be decided by the RAAF.

“At the moment we are designing the production of a core vehicle,” he said.

The assembly plant will be the first of its kind built by Boeing outside of the US and is expected to provide about 300 jobs during the construction phase and a further 70 jobs during initial run.

Along with supplying the Australian Defence Force, Boeing is also courting allied nations as customers.

The Boeing Australia, Airpower Teaming System Loyal Wingman conducts its maiden flight. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Mr Carpendale said he expected extra workers would be needed to meet that export demand.

“(The Loyal Wingman) was designed in Australia but very much for its exportability,” he said.

“We hope it would be a significant volume of aircraft for a number of allied countries.”

The aircraft successfully completed its test flights in February at the Woomera Range Complex in the South Australian outback.

It will be the first military aircraft to be designed and built in Australia in the past 50 years.

A mock-up of the planned Wellcamp Airport Aerospace Precinct. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Breaking ground at Wellcamp tech hub

IF THE project goes ahead, it will be a big win for the Wagner Corporation as it works to populate its Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct.

John Wagner said he expected the Boeing assembly plant would be the first of many tenants at the tech hub.

“Our vision for this precinct is for it to be the epicentre of aerospace and defence development, advanced manufacturing globally, research and development and education,” he said.

“With our proven track record, purpose-built infrastructure and entrepreneurial spirit, we are creating sustainable, multi-generational assets for our region, Queensland, Australia and the world.”

The Boeing plant will be the first tenant at the Wellcamp Airport Aerospace Precinct. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Located on the south eastern flank of Wellcamp Airport, the precinct is intended to host a range of hi-tech manufacturing companies and research bodies.

Mr Wagner said it would herald a return to aircraft manufacturing in the region.

“We believe this announcement with Boeing is only the start of many more announcements for other defence and space companies to move to the great city of Toowoomba,” he said.

“These are all new jobs for our region.

“Hanging from the ceiling (of the Wellcamp Airport terminal) is the first of two aircraft built in Toowoomba in 1960 – we are very humbled to be the conduit to go from manufacturing in 1960 to restarting the final assembly of the Loyal Wingman.”

John Wagner. Picture: Nev Madsen.

A win for Queensland

THE State Government estimates the project will bring about $1 billion to the region in its first year.

This includes the wages paid to Boeing engineers along with about a dozen smaller suppliers who will fabricate individual components.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said the state offered incentives – such as direct support and tax breaks – to secure the assembly plant.

Preparing to announce plans to build the Boeing Loyal Wingman drone are (from left) Neill Wagner, Denis Wagner, John Wagner, Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Cameron Dick and Boeing Defence Australia Vice President and Managing Director Scott Carpendale. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“We are always in competition with the southern states, but the good news is that Queensland always wins,” he said.

“This is building on 25 years working with Boeing – they brought their autonomous systems headquarters (to Queensland).”

Mr Dick refused to go into the specifics of that support and said making that information public would drive up the price of future incentives for the next big project.

“We always look to support companies that support Queensland,” he said.

“The reason we want to fight hard to get investments like this in Queensland is the multi-year, multi-generation benefit we get for our state.”