This brief was compiled by members of the direct action collective Shut Down Ferra. PDF with references can be accessed below.
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Summary
Ferra Engineering is the sole supplier for the AME Weapons Adapters that hold and release
various bombs from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet fighters. They make over 100 essential parts for
the F35.
The Israeli Defence Force has confirmed they rely on F 35s armed with 900kg JDAM bombs in
their invasion of Gaza. Every single bomb dropped from an F 35 in Gaza has been done so by
one of Ferra’s weapons adapters – weapons adapters that are manufactured and exported from
right here in Tingalpa, Brisbane.
Component parts potentially for Boeing JDAM Wingkits: Makes your bomb fly further and more accurately to kill more people
The Queensland Government’s funding of weapons manufacturers in recent years means that
Queensland is now a top contributor to the global arms trade and supply of arms to Israel.
The consistent investments Ferra Engineering has received from the Australian and
Queensland Governments over the years are responsible for their contribution to the genocide
of Palestinian people being perpetrated by Israel.
Every product manufactured by Ferra, whether in Australia or overseas, was conceptualised by
the Brisbane based team. Over the last three decades they have refined their business model
and manufacturing processes right here in Brisbane.
Ferra was founded in Brisbane in 1992. Their contributions to global terror can all be traced
back to this small factory, right here in Tingalpa.
Components for Boeing Wing Kits for JDAM bombs on the factory floor at Ferra.
Ferra Engineering
Ferra Engineering specialises in advanced manufacturing for the defence and aerospace
industry and has major contracts with weapons manufacturers including Lockheed Martin,
Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Thales.
Ferra Engineering was established in Brisbane in 1992 and has since expanded internationally
with several locations in the USA and one in India. Ferra was bought by Liberty Hall Capital
(Accurus Group) in 2022, with their head office now located in the UK.
Ferra Engineering manufactures more than 100 parts for Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter
Program (F 35 Program). They are the sole source supplier of the Alternate Missions Equipment
(AME) weapons adapters for the global F 35 supply chain. Every F 35 in production and
operation requires weapons adapters manufactured by Ferra Engineering.4 5
The IDF and US officials have confirmed that F 35s are being used against Palestinians in
Gaza.
It is estimated that more than 70% of the products manufactured in Ferra’s Tingalpa factory are
exported.
The AME weapons adapters for the F 35 are exported from Tingalpa to the USA
where they are received by Marvin Engineering and assembled for Lockheed Martin, and then
sent on to Israel.
Spare F 35 parts have also been ordered by Israel from storage in Europe, for which it is
unclear if Australia has contributed.
Ferra relies heavily on local supply chains in its production of F 35 parts and has a close
working relationship with Heat Treatment Australia (HTA) in Coopers Plains.
Ferra has an intimate relationship with Lockheed Martin dating back to 2006. Ferra’s latest
contract with Lockheed Martin for the F 35 Program is valued at $1.1 billion through to 2035.11 12
Ferra’s largest partnerships are with Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and largest manufacturing
platforms the F 35 Joint Strike Fighter Program and the Boeing MQ28A Loyal Wingman (Ghost
Bat).
The Ghost Bat is a weapons capable drone that is intended to support F 35s on long missions.
While initially developed for RAAF, US officials have indicated that from 2023 these drones will
be tested for application within the US Air Force and its allies. In early 2023 the Queensland
Government boasted of its involvement in supporting Ferra to produce these drones on behalf
of Boeing here in Queensland. They have also assisted Ferra to secure export deals in
countries like the UK and India via Trades and Investments Queensland (TIQ).
Following 7th October, Boeing urgently sped the delivery of 1,800 JDAM units to Israel. Boeing
has supplied tens of thousands of these units to Israel in the past decade.
In late October 2023, Ferra Engineering signed a MoU with Boeing to continue production of the
JDAM Extended Range (ER) Wing Kits, for which Ferra is Boeing’s global supplier through to
2028. While first developed for RAAF, the ER Wing Kits are exported internationally and provided to countries allied with the United States. There is no information available to suggest they are currently deployed by Israel, but have been used recently by Ukraine.
Per Boeing, “this project is a great example of Australian industry working with Defence to the great benefit of one of our key allies, the United States.” 16
Queensland Government Initiatives
The Queensland Government has established various initiatives to provide funding and support to local defence and aerospace businesses, including the:
Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning – Aerospace Roadmap and Action Plan 2018-2028 (Miles): QUEENSLAND AEROSPACE 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan (statedevelopment.qld.gov.au)
Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning – Queensland Defence Industries 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan 2018-2028 (Miles): defence industry-roadmap-october-22.pdf (statedevelopment.qld.gov.au)
Defence and Aerospace Industry Development (DAID) Fund. Steven Miles re the DAID Fund, 25 May 2023: “it is a priority of this Government to assist many of our smaller businesses to develop and promote their defence, aerospace and space capabilities here and overseas.” Defence and Aerospace Industry Development Funding for Qld businesses – Ministerial Media Statements
Queensland is home to Boeing’s largest workforce in the world outside of the United States thanks to Queensland Government deals with Boeing to bring defence manufacturing onshore. In 2018, the Government provided $18 million towards a deal with Boeing, of which $9 million was allocated to Queensland businesses to boost their weapons manufacturing capabilities in order to supply Boeing with weapons parts.
Ferra Engineering is a member of the Queensland Reference Group (QRG) for Manufacturing and Engineering and is the sole representative of the aerospace industry within this group. The QRG falls under the scope of the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water.20 21
The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, per Minister Glenn Butcher, recently awarded a grant (unknown quantity) to Ferra Engineering to increase domestic manufacturing capabilities to supply Boeing’s Ghost Bat Program.
Per Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick, “Ferra Engineering, from Tingalpa, [is] a company that our government has assisted with a manufacturing grant which Ferra will use to invest in new technology as it works on helping to build Boeing’s new Ghost Bat aircraft right here in Queensland.” 30 March 2023.
Ferra Engineering also has a longstanding relationship with Trades and Investments Queensland (TIQ) dating back to 2010. In 2023 Cameron Dick via TIQ assisted Ferra in expanding exportation to India and reported achieving a $700,000 outcome between parties. TIQ has also assisted Ferra to achieve export outcomes in the UK. The nature of assistance provided is unpublished.23 24 25
Ministerial Statements
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water Glenn Butcher, 28 February 2023:
Tingalpa’s Ferra puts Queensland defence on world stage – Ministerial Media Statements
“The Palaszczuk Government recognised the potential at Ferra some time ago, which is why we’ve done everything we can to help them fly into this next development.
The Department of Regional Development and Manufacturing provided the Ferra team a grant to ensure their manufacturing was brought onshore to Queensland.
Twenty good, new jobs are expected to be created in the next five years and the flow-on benefits of that are invaluable.”
Quotes attributable to the Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, 28 February 2023:
Tingalpa’s Ferra puts Queensland defence on world stage – Ministerial Media Statements
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of our Government’s commitment to defence industry jobs than Ferra.
“We’re supporting Boeing to assemble the Ghost Bat in Queensland.
We’ve supported Ferra to install technology that allows them to build larger components for military aircraft systems.
Queensland and India partner for future space and defence technologies – Ministerial Media Statements
And we’re supporting them to export their products to countries like India through Trade and Investment Queensland.
We want to keep strengthening Queensland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, because that will further diversify our economy and build on our existing skills base.
Our Government’s support for the local production of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat will help deliver around 300 construction jobs and at least 70 high-skilled jobs once operational, bringing with it supply chain opportunities for local businesses.
Ferra’s export customers include Boeing, Dynamatic Technologies, Godrej Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, the Airbus Group, GE Aviation, Thales and Lockheed Martin.”
Commenting on the partnership [between Ferra Engineering and Dynamatic Technologies (India)] Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said (21 March 2023):
Queensland and India partner for future space and defence technologies – Ministerial Media Statements
“I commend Ferra for securing partnerships with prestigious customers in India like Dynamatic Technologies.
“Partnerships with global defence giants like Boeing and Dynamatic Technologies strengthen Queensland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.
“Supporting companies like Ferra further diversifies Queensland’s economy and builds on our existing skills base.”