Canberra's defence businesses could add at least an extra 80 jobs in the next year, with one company looking to double its floor space to accommodate growth.
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Two Canberra-based defence technology manufacturers have secured contracts to provide weapons and radar technology to the Australian defence forces.
At the same time University of NSW Canberra is looking to establish the beginnings of a defence technology precinct by 2021.
The Australian government has recently promised to invest $200 billion into Australia's defence forces over the next decade.
Canberra's Electro Optics Systems has already had discussions with the university on its involvement in the precinct.
EOS Group chief executive Dr Ben Greene said the company worked closely with the university on space technology programs.
On Wednesday, defence minister Christopher Pyne announced the company would provide of remote weapons platforms for the Australian Army's Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles.
The platform, the R150, allows an attached weapon to be controlled remotely from inside the Boxer.
Dr Greene said the weapons platform was made in Hume. He expected to boost staff numbers from 150 to 200 in the next six to eight months.
"It means jobs for our kids so they don't have to leave Canberra," Dr Greene said.
Canberra students would be able to get their engineering and science degrees through his company.
Another Canberra-based defence technology manufacturer, CEA Technologies, has also secured a contract with Australian defence to produce missile detecting radars.
One of them, CEA's tactical radar, is designed to fit on the back of an army vehicle which allows it to be more easily deployed to front lines.
CEA chief executive Merv Davis said the system had been built entirely in Fyshwick.
The company had 370 people in Canberra and estimated to employ 400 by July next year, with that pool to grow by about 10 per cent each year.
"We are very grateful for the support the ACT government has provided us," Mr Davis said.
The company was designing a new building to double its floor space, allowing it to accommodate several hundred more employees in the future.
The University of NSW Canberra is developing its final proposal to the ACT government for a new defence technology precinct.
Canberra rector Professor Michael Frater said the university hoped to have a section of the precinct ready by 2021, but said the complete development would take about 20 years and "could be worth $1 billion dollars".
"Our plan is that the campus will include a precinct for research and innovation where UNSW can work with industry and that will be focussed around defence." Mr Frater said.
He said by developing a specialised precinct, it brought the campus in line with what other Canberra universities were doing.
When finished the precinct would have the capacity for up to 1000 students.
ACT veterans affairs minister Gordon Ramsay attended Adelaide defence industry conference Land Forces this week with 10 local companies, including representatives from UNSW Canberra and the University of Canberra.
