BAE Systems welcomes Australian Minister for Defence Industry to UK | ||||
Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems’ Chief Executive, today welcomed The Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, the Australian Minister for Defence Industry, to BAE Systems’ head office in London.
While there, Minister Pyne witnessed the signing of two UK Type 26 contracts placed with Australian based companies, Liferaft Systems Australia and Mackay Consolidated Industries. Liferaft Systems Australia, based in Tasmania, will provide the Type 26 Marine Evacuation System while Mackay Consolidated Industries, based in Victoria, will supply pipe hanger inserts.
These contracts will secure more than 200 jobs across Australia and take the number of global suppliers contracted to the UK Type 26 programme to 44.
BAE Systems’ Global Access Program has been working with the Type 26 programme for more than three years to identify opportunities for Australian companies to compete for work across a range of programs.
Charles Woodburn said: “The signing of these two contracts today for the Type 26 programme shows continuing momentum on the UK programme, where we have commenced work on the first ship, GLASGOW. Our Global Access Program ensures that Australian companies are able to compete for work across the entire BAE Systems global supply chain.”
BAE Systems Australia is competing for the Australian Government’s SEA 5000 Future Frigate program, where the company has a bid to replace the existing fleet of eight ANZAC Class frigates with nine anti-submarine warfare frigates. The company is offering the Global Combat Ship-Australia, a variant of the UK’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship which is currently being manufactured at BAE Systems’ facilities in Glasgow. | ||||
