At the centre of the action is Sea Air Space 2026, the premier US maritime exposition hosted by the Navy League of the United States, where close to 100 Australian companies are exhibiting at the Team Defence Australia (TDA) Pavilion. More than 30% of those companies are Victorian or have substantial advanced manufacturing capacity in Victoria.

Connecting Victorian exporters to opportunity

Global Victoria has supported Melbourne-based Moog Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Moog Inc., to deliver a dedicated advanced manufacturing trade mission and defence roadshow for Victorian exporters.

Seven Victorian companies are amongst a cohort of 15 Australian businesses from across four states that are travelling to Washington DC, Buffalo and Akron, Ohio this week. The trade mission will encompass a program of facility tours, design for manufacturing workshops, networking events, with the highlight being capability pitching sessions delivered by the Australian contingent to upwards of 50  key decision-makers from Moog Inc. The goal is to position Australian firms as suppliers into Moog's advanced manufacturing, missile systems and other defence programs to support and build enduring sovereign capability.

To hone the presentation skills of the participants, Moog has sponsored a comprehensive syllabus of pitch coaching. This has been delivered with specific reference to a US buyer audience and will enable skills to be sharpened and capabilities presented in the best possible light.

About Moog

Moog Australia, established in 1979 and headquartered in Heatherton, Victoria, is a specialist advanced manufacturing and defence supplier with deep roots in the local market. Its parent company, Moog Inc., is a global prime delivering mission-critical motion control systems across land, air and naval platforms for military forces around the world.

For Victorian companies, access to Moog Inc.’s supply chain can open the door to procurement programs that span multiple platforms, countries and years of production.

Building Victorian capability

Sitting at the heart of Global Victoria's advanced manufacturing and defence export work is Mark Bayliss, Director of Defence and Aerospace Trade and Investment at the Victorian Government’s Trade and Investment (VGTI) office in the United States.

With 25 years of service in the Australian Army, including in Special Operations Command, Mark Bayliss brings rare frontline insight to Global Victoria’s advanced manufacturing and defence export work in the United States.

That experience helps him connect Victorian companies with the right decision-makers and position their capability in a way that resonates with US primes and military buyers.

Victoria’s pathway into global supply chains

With the Commonwealth Government investing $765 billion in defence over the next decade, Victoria has a major opportunity to secure exports, high-value jobs and capital investment.

The Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Statement reinforces that ambition by backing advanced manufacturing and defence capability, strengthening supply chains and supporting business growth.

Global Victoria is helping companies take advantage of those opportunities through one-on-one trade facilitation, international introductions and support to access programs such as Team Defence Australia.

Trade expositions like Sea Air Space deliver face-to-face access to military decision-makers, global primes, and technology leaders who are actively looking for solutions. Backing that with a structured roadshow and supply chain introductions helps Victorian companies shift from awareness to viable commercial outcomes.

Get involved

If your business has advanced manufacturing and defence capability and you want to explore export opportunities in the US, reach out to the Global Victoria team.

Contact Mark Bayliss - Victorian Government's Trade And Investment Director, Defence And Aerospace, USA.