BAE Systems has opened its new engineering hub in Melbourne that will integrate the company's aerospace, autonomous systems and guided weapons research into a single facility.

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr and Victoria's Minister of Industry and Trade, the Hon Jacinta Allan, officially opened the company's new engineering centre at Richmond that will accommodate more than 300 BAE Systems employees.

The building, on River Boulevard, will give teams from BAE Systems' Aerospace and Autonomous Systems Development (AASD), and Weapon Systems (WS), access to modern laboratories to support a range of advanced design and test activities.

Jim McDowell, Managing Director of BAE Systems Australia, said the company was at the forefront of research into autonomy and guided weapon systems.

"Our AASD group in Melbourne leads our global company's engineering development and design capability across BAE Systems Australia's Aerospace business unit, including design and development of autonomous enabling technologies, P-3, F/A -18 and Hawk Mission Systems support and Aircraft Integration activities for Blackhawk, Chinook and Seahawk" Mr McDowell said.

"Our Weapon Systems group is also involved in the cutting edge design, integration and support of ship air defence systems and guided weapons, including the highly successful Nulka active missile decoys and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM)," he said.