Life Support International (LSI) proudly hosted the grand opening of our newest Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility, Life Support International Australia (LSI-A), located in Elizabeth, South Australia. The event was a resounding success, marking a significant milestone in LSI’s ongoing commitment to supporting global search and rescue operations and defense aviation programs.
The establishment of this facility represents a strong partnership between LSI and the Government of South Australia, setting the foundation for long-term growth in the manufacturing, servicing, and support of lifesaving equipment throughout the region.
Celebrating a Milestone Partnership
To commemorate the opening, LSI welcomed industry partners, defense representatives, government officials, and other distinguished guests to tour the new facility and celebrate this milestone. Greg Yerkes (President of Life Support International), Doug Phillips (CEO of BiORG), Joe Szakacs (Minister for Manufacturing and Industry), Matt Burnell (Federal Member for Spence, MP), and GP Capt. Simon Bird (RAAF) all spoke at the ceremony.
Each shared valuable insight into the bright future and mutual benefits that this new facility will bring to both Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Creating Local Impact and Regional Opportunity
At its core, LSI-A’s mission is to enhance support for Australia’s defense forces by providing faster, more efficient servicing of critical lifesaving systems. Beyond improving logistics and turnaround times, the establishment of this facility creates meaningful local impact—driving new employment opportunities, fostering manufacturing growth, and strengthening the aerospace and defense industry within South Australia.
Strategically located in Adelaide, the facility also positions LSI to expand its support throughout the broader Asia-Pacific region, establishing a regional hub for aerospace service, maintenance, and upgrade programs that deliver long-term value to both local and international partners.
Focused on UNI-PAC III: A Search & Rescue System for the P-8A Poseidon
A central component of the new facility’s service operations will focus on maintaining the LSI-manufactured UNI-PAC III — a search & rescue system consisting of a 20-person life raft and survival aids deployed from the weapons bay of the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
With the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) utilizing the P-8A, this new local facility eliminates the need to transport equipment internationally for servicing, resulting in reduced turnaround times, lower costs, and improving readiness for Australia’s maritime missions.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The grand opening of LSI-A was more than just an event — it was a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and shared values across industries and nations, a true honor to be a part of.
We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped turn this vision into reality — from all of our dedicated teams in the U.S., to the government and industry partners in Australia who laid the groundwork for this expansion. A special acknowledgment goes to the LSI internal team and Doug Phillips (Doug P.) and his team at BiORG, whose partnership and leadership championed this initiative from concept to completion and now drive day-to-day operations at the new facility in Adelaide.
Together, we are advancing our mission to save lives, strengthen partnerships, and support global defense operations with excellence.