Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: The exposition draws major corporations in the aircraft and aerospace industry and is a chance for Wisconsin companies in that field to make connections and learn about the latest innovations.
The latest products and technology in the aircraft and aerospace industry are on display in Australia at the AVALON Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defense Exposition.
The biennial event, held in Geelong, Victoria, attracted nearly 40,000 industry professionals in 2019, with 700 companies participating and 350 aircraft on display.
Wisconsin has more than 200 companies connected to the aerospace industry—including 130 suppliers for Boeing—and more than 26,000 residents who work at companies that support aerospace manufacturing. The state is also known for the annual EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, which draws as many as 650,000 aviation enthusiasts from around the world and features aircraft ranging from the historic to the futuristic.
Wisconsin is gaining industry attention for its research and development in nanotechnology and power and control systems—areas of importance to the aviation industry. The Washington, D.C.-based General Aviation Manufacturing Association has chosen Wisconsin as the location of its Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.
Australia plans to step up its military spending, including aircraft, with a 10-year, $190 billion defense acquisition plan, and U.S. companies are expected to benefit from that.
In December 2022, the U.S. and Australia announced an agreement to work together more closely on defense, including a greater presence of American troops, fighter jets, and bomber task forces in Australia. The partnership comes in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine and to China’s threats involving nearby island nations.
“The bonds between our democracies and our peoples have been forged by shared sacrifice, shared values, and shared history,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. “The United States and Australia share a vision of a region where countries can determine their own futures, and they should be able to seek security and prosperity free from coercion and intimidation.”
