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Rolls-Royce expands partnership with Marand and establishes regional Defence Headquarters in Canberra | Rolls-Royce

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Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) has announced it is expanding its partnership with Marand Precision Engineering into a new export venture, supplying naval gas turbine propulsion packages to the Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme. Alongside this, Rolls-Royce has opened a new regional Defence Headquarters in Canberra, Australia, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to supporting the Australian Defence Force (ADF), building Australian sovereign industrial capability, and expanding its presence in the Pacific Rim.

The Canberra facility was officially opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, on 12 August 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, officially opens new Rolls-Royce Pacific Rim Defence headquarters

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) has announced it is expanding its partnership with Marand Precision Engineering into a new export venture, supplying naval gas turbine propulsion packages to the Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme. Alongside this, Rolls-Royce has opened a new regional Defence Headquarters in Canberra, Australia, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to supporting the Australian Defence Force (ADF), building Australian sovereign industrial capability, and expanding its presence in the Pacific Rim.

The Canberra facility was officially opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, on 12 August 2026.

Alex Zino, Defence Director of Business Development and Future Programmes, UK and International, Rolls-Royce, said:

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This is a transformative step in our partnership with Marand Precision Engineering. Marand was selected from an international field, a testament to the quality of Australian engineering, and it underscores our commitment to bolster Australia's sovereign capability. We look forward to working closely with Marand, BAE Systems Australia, and our customers around the world.”

 

Rohan Stocker, CEO of ASDAM Group and Marand; and Alex Zino, Defence Director of Business Development and Future Programmes, UK and International, Rolls-Royce; participate in a formal signing ceremony in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP

Rohan Stocker, CEO of ASDAM Group and Marand, said:

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It is a privilege for our team to manufacture and assemble the gas turbine acoustic enclosure and ship interface systems for Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems Australia and ultimately for the Commonwealth. The partnership with Rolls-Royce has been an opportunity to learn from, and deliver an outstanding product with, a global leader in Defence Engineering.”

A regional hub for the Pacific Rim

L-R: Alex Zino, Defence Director of Business Development and Future Programmes, UK and International, Rolls-Royce and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP unveil plaque to mark opening of new Rolls-Royce Pacific Rim Defence Headquarters

A regional hub for the Pacific Rim

The new, dedicated Defence headquarters will serve as the strategic hub for Rolls-Royce Defence Pacific Rim operations, servicing markets across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. Rolls-Royce will invest in the new facility over next five years, which will increase visibility and accessibility, allowing for seamless, face-to-face collaboration with key stakeholders on major national security and defence programmes.

Rolls-Royce is investing in the new facility, which will help streamline communication and support for several high-profile, multi-domain defence projects currently underway with the ADF, regional partners, and strategic frameworks like AUKUS.

Thijs Miedema, Senior Vice President for Defence Pacific Rim, Rolls-Royce, said:

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Establishing our regional Defence headquarters in Canberra is a critical step forward for Rolls-Royce in the Pacific Rim. While we have long maintained a strong footprint in Australia, this permanent base brings us closer to the heart of the Australian Government and Australian Defence Force leadership. It ensures we can provide immediate, collaborative engagement to better support the vital programmes that safeguard Australia and our regional partners.”

The headquarters builds on Rolls-Royce’s deep and enduring footprint in Australia, which includes power for the land, naval and air forces, with products from its US, UK, and German facilities. Rolls-Royce will continue to operate its established Sydney office, and its dedicated fleet services and technical personnel remain embedded across several ADF bases to provide direct, on-site operational and engineering support.

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
  1. Rolls-Royce is a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere. Our products and service packages help our customers meet the growing need for power across multiple industries; enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens; and connect people, societies, cultures and economies together.
  2. Rolls-Royce has a local presence in 47 countries and customers in over a hundred more, including airlines and aircraft leasing companies, armed forces and navies, and marine and industrial customers.
  3. Through our multi-year transformation programme, we are building a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing Rolls-Royce. We are building the financial capacity and agility to allow us to successfully develop and deliver the products that will support our customers through the energy transition.
  4. Annual underlying revenue was £20.1 billion in 2025, and underlying operating profit was £3.46 billion.
  5. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69).
  6. In Australia, Rolls-Royce powers aircraft including the RAAF Hawk through the Adour engine, the RAAF C-130J and C-27J fleets through the AE 2100, the MQ-4C Triton through the AE 3007H and the MC-55A Peregrine (G550) through our BR710. At sea, the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigates and upgraded Mogami class general purpose frigates will benefit from Rolls-Royce’s integrated naval power portfolio, combining MT30 marine gas turbine technology with mtu power generation solutions.
  7. Rolls-Royce also plays a significant role in the AUKUS trilateral agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US, with Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd set to provide reactors for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines.

www.rolls-royce.com

About Marand Precision Engineering Pty Ltd
  1. Marand designs, manufactures, and sustains complex and innovative equipment and products primarily for the defence, aerospace, mining, rail, and energy industries.
  2. Our customer base includes companies such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Kongsberg, BHP Billiton, and Rio Tinto.
  3. Headquartered in Moorabbin, Victoria, Marand also operates in Geelong and Fort Worth USA. 
  4. Marand is part of the ASDAM group which includes Marand, Levett Engineering, TAE Aerospace, Rosebank Engineering, Quickstep and Oldham Engineering UK providing engineering, manufacture and sustainment for primes and the Australian Department of Defence. 
  5. ASDAM operates from 20 locations across Australia, United Kingdom and the United States and has over 1,400 employees.

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