Tenix Defence

Tenix Defence was an Australian defence contractor that operated across aerospace, land systems, marine construction and electronic systems. It was formed in 1997 when the defence activities of Transfield Services were separated and subsequently operated as part of Tenix Group. The company became one of Australia's largest privately owned defence businesses, with capabilities covering design, manufacture, modification, repair, systems integration, logistics, maintenance and through-life support. Its land business supported major categories of Australian military equipment, including armoured and non-armoured vehicles, artillery, guided weapons and other Army systems. Facilities at Wingfield in South Australia and Bandiana in Victoria provided engineering, prototyping, warehousing, production, painting, configuration management, integrated logistics support and heavy-grade maintenance. Wingfield was described as Australia's largest privately operated military vehicle facility. Land projects included the LAND 106 upgrade of M113 armoured personnel carriers and the production of ten armoured limousines based on the Holden Caprice for the Australian Attorney-General's Department. The marine division was a major ship designer, builder and support provider in the Asia-Pacific region. It worked from Australian facilities including Williamstown in Victoria and Henderson in Western Australia, with additional locations in Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney. A Whangarei facility in New Zealand fabricated hull and superstructure modules for the ANZAC-class program and built patrol boats for the Royal New Zealand Navy's Protector project. Across its history, the division reported experience delivering more than 200 naval, paramilitary and specialist vessels. Its most prominent work included Australia's ten ANZAC-class frigates and New Zealand's Protector-class offshore patrol vessels. Tenix Defence was also involved in major Australian naval procurement. In 2007 it was selected as the preferred tenderer for two Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock ships, based on a Navantia design and proposed for construction in partnership with the Spanish company. The vessels, later named HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, entered Australian service in 2014 and 2015. The program was therefore delivered after Tenix Defence had ceased to exist as an independent business, following its acquisition by BAE Systems. The aerospace division was established in 1998 to support Australian Defence Force aircraft programs, drawing on the heritage of De Havilland Australia, which Tenix acquired that year. It maintained engineering and aircraft-support capabilities, including authorised design-organisation certification for selected defence aircraft programs, and operated from Melbourne with a hangar at Melbourne Airport. Its work also involved ADF locations such as HMAS Albatross, RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Edinburgh. The electronic systems division served as Tenix Defence's technology and systems-integration centre. Its work encompassed network-enabled systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and network-centric warfare. Projects included the Advanced Air Defence Simulator for training operators of the RBS-70 ground-based air-defence system, as well as the Ninox ground-surveillance radar, thermal-surveillance and unattended-ground-sensor projects. BAE Systems announced its intention to acquire Tenix Defence from Tenix Group in January 2008. The transaction was completed in June 2008 for A$775 million, after which the business became part of BAE Systems Australia. The acquisition made BAE Systems Australia the country's largest defence contractor and ended Tenix Defence's existence as an independent corporate defence brand.

Tenix Defence emerged in 1997 from the separation of the defence-contracting activities associated with Transfield Services. It became the defence arm of Tenix Group and developed into a diversified contractor serving the Australian Defence Force, New Zealand defence customers and selected commercial or paramilitary markets. Rather than concentrating on a single platform type, the business combined land equipment support, naval shipbuilding, aerospace engineering and electronic-systems integration. The land activities provided engineering, manufacture, modification, repair and logistics support for equipment already in Australian military service. Wingfield in South Australia and Bandiana in Victoria formed important operating locations. Wingfield combined production and repair infrastructure with engineering, prototyping, warehousing, painting and configuration-management functions. Bandiana supported Joint Logistics Command through warehousing and heavy maintenance covering vehicles, artillery, guided weapons and other Army systems. The LAND 106 M113 Upgrade Project was among the division's notable programs. Tenix's marine division became the most visible part of the company. It operated shipbuilding and support facilities at Williamstown and Henderson, while also using a network of sites in Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand operation fabricated modules for ANZAC-class vessels and built four patrol boats for the Royal New Zealand Navy's Protector project. The division claimed experience with more than 200 naval, paramilitary and specialist vessels, including the ten ANZAC-class frigates and two Protector-class offshore patrol vessels. In 2007, Tenix Defence was selected as preferred tenderer for two Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock ships. The proposed arrangement used a Navantia design and involved cooperation with the Spanish shipbuilder. The ships were ultimately named HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide and entered service in 2014 and 2015. Because Tenix Defence was acquired before their completion, the ships were delivered under BAE Systems Australia's ownership and the independent Tenix Defence brand did not continue through the final delivery phase. The aerospace operation was established in 1998 and was strengthened by the purchase of De Havilland Australia. It supported ADF aircraft programs, maintained authorised design-engineering capability for selected defence aircraft and worked from Melbourne as well as on ADF bases. The electronic systems division added capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, network-enabled systems and network-centric warfare. Its listed work included the Advanced Air Defence Simulator and several Ninox surveillance initiatives. BAE Systems announced the planned acquisition of Tenix Defence in January 2008 and completed the transaction in June for A$775 million. The business was absorbed into BAE Systems Australia, which thereby became Australia's largest defence contractor. This transaction marked the end of Tenix Defence as an independent defence company and brand.

1. 2015HMAS Adelaide enters service

   The second Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock ship entered Australian service.

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2. 2014HMAS Canberra enters service

   The first Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock ship entered Australian service after the program continued under BAE Systems Australia.

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3. 2008Acquired by BAE Systems

   BAE Systems completed the acquisition of Tenix Defence from Tenix Group for A$775 million, integrating the business into BAE Systems Australia.

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4. 2007Preferred tenderer for Canberra-class amphibious ships

   Tenix Defence was selected as preferred tenderer for two Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock ships based on a Navantia design.

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5. 1998Aerospace capability expanded through De Havilland Australia

   Tenix acquired De Havilland Australia, supporting the development of its defence aerospace engineering activities.

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6. 1997Tenix Defence is formed

   The defence business was separated from Transfield Services and operated within Tenix Group.

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An Australian full-spectrum defence contractor combining naval shipbuilding, military land-system support, aerospace engineering and defence electronics, with a strong emphasis on locally delivered integration and through-life support.

• ANZAC-class frigatesNaval vessels

  Tenix Defence's marine business built ten ANZAC-class frigates for Australia. The program formed part of the company's long-running naval construction capability and contributed to its position as a major shipbuilder in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Protector-class offshore patrol vesselsNaval vessels

  The New Zealand operation fabricated ANZAC-related hull and superstructure modules and built four patrol boats for the Royal New Zealand Navy's Protector project. The work demonstrated Tenix's regional shipbuilding and module-fabrication capability.

• Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock shipsAmphibious assault ships2007

  Tenix Defence was selected as preferred tenderer for two large amphibious ships based on a Navantia design. The ships became HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide and entered service in 2014 and 2015, after the Tenix business had been acquired by BAE Systems.

• LAND 106 M113 Upgrade ProjectMilitary vehicle modernization

  This project upgraded M113 armoured personnel carriers for the Australian Army. It was one of the principal programs associated with Tenix Defence's land-systems division.

• Ninox surveillance systemsSurveillance and sensor systems

  The electronic systems division worked on Ninox initiatives covering ground-surveillance radar, thermal surveillance and unattended ground sensors. These activities formed part of Tenix's broader portfolio in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

• Advanced Air Defence SimulatorDefence training systems

  The simulator supported training for Australian Army operators of the RBS-70 ground-based air-defence weapon. It represented the electronic systems division's role in training, simulation and integrated defence-system solutions.

• 2008Sale of Tenix Defence to BAE SystemsM&A

  Tenix Group agreed to sell its defence-contracting arm as the Australian defence market continued to consolidate around large prime contractors.

  What changed. BAE Systems acquired Tenix Defence for A$775 million, completing the transaction in June 2008.

  Aftermath. Tenix Defence was integrated into BAE Systems Australia, which became Australia's largest defence contractor. The Tenix Defence brand ceased operating independently.

  Acquisition price. A$775 million (June 2008)

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• 2007Pursuit of the Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock programStrategy

  Australia sought two large amphibious ships to expand its naval sealift and amphibious capabilities. Tenix Defence competed with a proposal based on a Navantia design.

  What changed. The Australian government selected Tenix Defence as preferred tenderer for construction of the two ships.

  Aftermath. The vessels were ultimately delivered as HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide in 2014 and 2015, under BAE Systems Australia after its acquisition of Tenix Defence.

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• 2008BAE Systems announces proposed acquisition of Tenix Defence

  BAE Systems announced its intention to acquire Tenix Defence from Tenix Group, beginning the process that would bring the Australian contractor into BAE Systems Australia.

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• 2008BAE Systems completes acquisition of Tenix Defence

  The acquisition was completed in June 2008 for A$775 million. The former Tenix business became part of BAE Systems Australia.

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• 2007Tenix Defence selected as preferred tenderer for Canberra-class ships

  The Australian Defence Minister announced Tenix Defence as preferred tenderer to construct two large amphibious Landing Helicopter Dock ships based on a Navantia design.

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1. Tenix Defence