Defence drafting services with security built in.
Technical data packages, fabrication drawings and legacy drawing conversion for the Australian defence sector. Our defence CAD drafting services are delivered entirely onshore by Australian-based drafters, to AS 1100 and defence drawing conventions.
Australia’s defence industry runs on documentation. Every vehicle overhaul, equipment upgrade, facility works package and sustainment contract depends on accurate, standards-compliant engineering drawings — and much of the sector’s legacy data still exists only on paper, microfilm or in obsolete CAD formats. ASTCAD supports defence primes, SMEs in defence supply chains, and sustainment contractors with drafting capacity that scales to tender deadlines and technical data package (TDP) delivery schedules, without the overhead of permanent in-house drafting teams.
Defence drafting services offered
- Technical data package (TDP) drawing production and updates
- General arrangement and detail drawings for defence vehicles and equipment
- Weld and fabrication drawings to AS/NZS 1554 and AWS D1.1
- Legacy drawing conversion — paper, microfilm and obsolete CAD formats to current DWG/STEP
- Reverse engineering of legacy equipment via 3D scanning and measurement for obsolescence management
- Structural and facility drawings for defence estate and infrastructure works
- Finite element analysis (FEA) and stress reporting to support design substantiation
- Bill of materials, item lists and drawing register management
- Rapid prototyping and 3D printing — concept validation, jigs, fixtures and form-fit checks
Sovereign drafting capability — why it matters
Australian Industry Capability (AIC) obligations flow down defence supply chains, and where work is performed matters. All ASTCAD drafting is performed onshore by Australian-based drafters — we do not offshore or subcontract defence-related work. For primes and SMEs, that means drafting spend you can count toward Australian content, and project data that never leaves Australian jurisdiction. We provide surge capacity for tender responses and TDP delivery milestones, so your engineering team stays focused on design authority work while we carry the documentation load. Our drafters’ project experience includes work for the RAAF and defence supply-chain programs, alongside industrial organisations such as Honeywell — delivered under the confidentiality and flow-down conditions defence work demands.
Security and data handling
- Onshore only. All defence-related work performed in Australia by Australian-based staff. No offshoring, no subcontracting.
- NDA-first. We execute non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality deeds before receiving any project data.
- Segregated storage. Defence project files are held in access-controlled, project-segregated storage with encrypted transfer.
- Export-control aware. We handle ITAR/EAR and Defence Export Controls considerations under your direction and flow-down requirements.
- Unclassified workflows. Our standard workflows cover unclassified and commercially sensitive material; we work within your security framework and flow-down conditions for anything above that.
- Registered supplier. ASTCAD is a registered supplier on ICN Gateway, the Industry Capability Network platform primes use to source Australian suppliers for AIC commitments.
Related CAD Drafting Services
Defence projects draw on mechanical, structural and conversion expertise across our service range:
- Mechanical Drafting Services — equipment, machinery and component drawings
- Structural Steel Shop Drawings — fabrication packages for defence infrastructure
- CAD Conversion — legacy defence drawing archives to current formats
- 3D Scanning & Measurement — reverse engineering for obsolete parts
- Aerospace Design Services — adjacent aerospace and aviation drafting capability
Defence Drafting Locations
- Defence Drafting — Brisbane
- Defence Drafting — Sydney
- Defence Drafting — Melbourne
- Defence Drafting — Perth
Industry Standards & References
Our defence drafting work follows AS 1100 engineering drawing practice and defence drawing conventions including ASME Y14 series where specified by your technical authority. Relevant frameworks include Australian Standards, the Department of Defence industry programs, and professional accreditation through Engineers Australia. We use AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CATIA and Inventor as our principal defence CAD tools.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about our defence drafting services for Australian clients.
Do you work with defence primes and defence SMEs?
Yes. We support prime contractors, SMEs in defence supply chains, and sustainment contractors with drafting capacity for technical data packages, equipment drawings, facility works and legacy data conversion. Work is performed under your flow-down confidentiality and security conditions.
What drawing standards do you follow for defence work?
AS 1100 engineering drawing practice as the baseline, with defence drawing conventions and ASME Y14 series applied where your technical authority specifies them. Weld and fabrication drawings follow AS/NZS 1554 and AWS D1.1. We work to your drawing office manual where one exists.
How do you handle sensitive defence project data?
All work is performed onshore in Australia by Australian-based staff — never offshored or subcontracted. We execute NDAs before receiving data, hold project files in access-controlled segregated storage, use encrypted transfer, and follow your export-control and flow-down requirements. Standard workflows cover unclassified and commercially sensitive material.
Can you convert legacy defence drawings and reverse engineer obsolete parts?
Yes. We convert paper, microfilm and obsolete CAD-format drawings into current DWG, STEP and BIM formats, and use 3D scanning and dimensional measurement to reverse engineer legacy equipment where original drawings are lost — a common requirement in obsolescence management and sustainment programs.
Does outsourcing drafting to ASTCAD count as Australian industry content?
Yes. ASTCAD is an Australian company and all drafting is performed onshore by Australian-based drafters, so our services sit within Australian supply-chain content. How that is counted toward specific AIC commitments depends on your contract — we provide the documentation you need to substantiate it.
Need Defence drafting
done right?
Tell us about your project — no-obligation quote within 24 hours. NDA available before you send anything.