BAE, Thales win sustainment deals for Collins-class subs

Defence has extended two contracts for the sustainment of the sonars and periscopes for the Collins class submarines. Thales Australia has been awarded a five-year extension valued at $178 million; and BAE Systems Australia a five-year extension at a cost of $89 million. These contracts will provide ongoing support for the Collins class submarines’ sonars and periscopes through to the 2030s.

These extensions reflect the Government’s $4 billion to $5 billion commitment to ensuring the Collins class submarines remain an enduring, potent and credible submarine capability critical to Australia’s national security.

This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to investing in Australian industry and workers, supporting a local Australian workforce to sustain Australia’s sovereign capabilities. These contract extensions will directly support job security for over 100 highly skilled workers.

Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group David Hanley said: “The Government’s Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan is delivering potent naval capabilities to protect Australia’s national security and grow Australia’s sovereign industrial capability. These contracts provide over 100 Australian workers with certainty in Australia’s national naval shipbuilding and sustainment enterprise.”

BAE Systems Australia said it welcomed the $89 million, five-year contract extension with the Commonwealth of Australia to provide in-service periscope support for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) six Collins Class submarines. The contract, announced by the Commonwealth, will provide ongoing support for the Collins Class submarines’ periscopes through to the 2030s. It will ensure the continuation of maintenance and logistics services, engineering and supply support and program management of 16 periscope systems at BAE Systems’ purpose-built Mawson Lakes facility in South Australia and HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Each Collins Class submarine has an Attack and Search periscope, and these are extensively overhauled and recertified to ensure their materiel readiness and continuing structural integrity.

Under its In-Service Support Contract, BAE Systems has developed a local and global supply chain network, delivering sovereign capability to support the RAN’s submarine force and its role in defending Australia and its national interests. The company has manufactured, sustained and upgraded the periscope systems for the Collins fleet for the life of their service with the RAN. During the build phase alone, BAE Systems, in collaboration with its supply chain, locally manufactured the optic, electronics, cables and mechanical parts of the periscope to achieve high levels of Australian industry content.

Andrew Gresham, BAE Systems Australia Managing Director, Defence Delivery, said: “BAE Systems Australia is a long-term sovereign capability partner to the Royal Australian Navy with more than three decades of expertise in the manufacture and build, sustainment and upgrade of Collins Class submarine periscope systems. We are delighted to confirm a five-year contract extension, building on our large body of work with the Submarine Enterprise that ensures the continued operation of the periscope systems, which are critical for the Collins Class fleet. Today’s announcement underscores the importance of our company’s long-standing experience in delivering periscope systems in Australia and our local network of trusted industry partners delivering into the sustainment program.”

Thales Australia too said it welcomed the five-year contract extension with Defence for in-service sonar support for the Collins Class Submarine, continuing vital maintenance, operational support and ongoing upgrades to the sonar suite. The Scylla Sonar Suite comprises a number of sensors throughout the Collins Class Submarine, including the Thales Australia sovereign designed and developed, Towed Array Sonar. The Scylla Sonar comprises passive and active sonar arrays together with inboard processing and user interface software that allows the Acoustic Warfare Analyst to detect, track and classify noise sources in the ocean, passing critical information to the combat system and submarine command.

The Scylla in-service support contract consists of a range of services all delivered by teams based in NSW and WA. This includes planned maintenance activities, operational support, engineering support, obsolescence management, sonar upgrades and Towed Array manufacture and repair. These services and support are delivered by 70 staff based at key sites in Rydalmere in Sydney’s Western Suburbs, Rockingham and West Leederville in Perth.

Jeff Connolly, CEO, Thales Australia, said: “Thales Australia is delighted to continue this important partnership with the Commonwealth and Defence to provide high-performing and sovereign technology that delivers national security protection to the Australian nation. From the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle and complex underwater sensors to defence-grade cybersecurity protection and digital identity technology, we are committed to working with our partners to provide sovereign capabilities and support wherever it is needed.”

Troy Stephen, VP Underwater Systems, said:  “These advanced systems are designed, developed and sustained in Australia and the contract extension will support jobs and our local engineering teams in NSW and WA. Thales is proud to play such an important role in the Submarine Enterprise and this contract extension ensures that Collins will continue to operate with the most technologically advanced sonar capabilities that are available in the world today.”

Gregg Bohan, Director, Undersea Warfare, said: “Thales Australia’s has been delivering this critical support to Australia’s most important Navy capability for nearly 30 years. Our teams are so passionate about supporting this critical capability for the Royal Australian Navy and many have done so for decades now. Together with the Commonwealth, Navy and Industry Partners, Thales Australia is committed to maintaining and evolving Australia’s underwater systems capability sovereign, resilient and sustainable, with local engineering teams in NSW and WA supporting our submarine force.”

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