Kapitol has successfully delivered Stage 2 of Hanwha Defence Australia’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE), expanding the capability of the 32,000 sqm Avalon facility in Victoria’s Geelong region. The completed project establishes a critical manufacturing hub supporting the Australian Defence Force’s LAND 400 Phase 3 program and the production of 129 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
Delivering Stage 2 required the construction of complex, production-critical infrastructure while maintaining full operations within a live defence environment. Through early design coordination, detailed modelling and close collaboration with Hanwha, the team ensured seamless integration between new and existing facilities without disrupting ongoing operations.
A key focus was managing intricate interfaces between new structural steel and the existing Production Hall 1. Kapitol undertook point cloud scanning and verification against as-built drawings to ensure accuracy prior to installation, reducing rework and enabling confident delivery in a constrained and highly controlled environment.
Stage 2 included the delivery of several specialised facilities:
The EMI/EMC chamber presented one of the project’s most complex technical challenges, requiring stringent environmental controls to ensure testing integrity. This was delivered through coordinated design and construction, integrating structural, mechanical and security requirements within a highly controlled setting.
Construction also involved careful sequencing of crane installation, high-level services and structural steel, alongside numerous slab set-downs, all coordinated through detailed modelling and early contractor engagement.
Collaboration was central to the project’s success. Working closely with Hanwha, Kapitol adapted to strict defence protocols, permitting processes and operational requirements, ensuring the facility remained fully functional throughout construction.
The project achieved strong delivery outcomes, with Production Hall 2 handed over approximately six weeks ahead of schedule, allowing Hanwha to accelerate its program. Over 900 workers contributed to Stage 2, with more than 25% of the workforce sourced from the Greater Geelong region, reinforcing the project’s contribution to local capability and industry.
As a project of national significance, H-ACE Stage 2 strengthens Australia’s sovereign defence capability while demonstrating Kapitol’s ability to deliver highly secure, technically complex infrastructure in live operational environments.
To learn more about Kapitol’s defence capability, view the Defence Capability Statement or watch the project video below.
