A new strategic partnership will see South Australia become the Indo-Pacific service centre for specialised aeronautical life support equipment manufactured by US company Life Support International (LSI).

Under the partnership, BiORG, a South Australian veteran-owned company specialising in defence support systems and logistics, will manage the day-to-day operation of LSI’s new maintenance facility at Elizabeth and provide ongoing specialist maintenance of LSI’s flagship product, UNI-PAC III.

UNI-PAC III is an air-deployable search and rescue system designed to save lives at sea when a ship is too far away for immediate assistance. It contains a 20-person life raft and survival aids that can be dropped from P-8A Poseidon aircraft and is used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Doug Phillips, Chief Executive of BiORG, said the partnership with LSI is expected to create approximately 17 highly skilled jobs at the Elizabeth service centre by 2030 with the team set to provide specialist maintenance coverage for LSI clients in the Indo Pacific.

“By combining LSI’s world-class life support technologies with BiORG’s support system integration and sustainment know-how, we’re ensuring that Defence personnel have access to the safest and most dependable equipment available,” Mr Phillips said.

While LSI has supported the RAAF with aeronautical life support equipment for several years, the Elizabeth facility is the company’s first physical presence in Australia.

The new facility will complement the activity at South Australia’s new Deep Maintenance and Modification facility at Penfield by integrating maintenance, repair and overhaul of aeronautical life support equipment, alongside aircraft maintenance activities.

Greg Yerkes, President of LSI, said South Australia’s support for defence industry and BiORG’s expertise had played a major role in the decision to base the company’s Indo-Pacific service centre in the state.

“We are thrilled to open this new facility in Adelaide, a city with a strong manufacturing heritage and growing defence sector. The partnership with BiORG has been a cornerstone of this expansion,” he said.

“This facility allows us to better serve our partners in the region with rapid response times, local expertise, and customised support for our life-saving technologies.”

The LSI facility in Elizabeth is due to be officially opened later this year.

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Photo: Doug Phillips, CEO of BiORG, and Gerg Yerkes, President of Life Support International, formalising their partnership in Pennsylvania, USA.