NSM signs long-term contract with L3Harris for Canberra-class LHD support

Naval Ship Management (NSM) has announced that it has partnered with L3Harris Technologies to provide engineering, maintenance and supply chain solutions to support the Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), and its associated assets. Front row L-R: Nigel Bagster, Managing Director, Communications Australia, L3Harris, and Joe Smith, General Manager, Naval Ship Management. Back row L-R: Commander Dane Wilson, Sustainment Manager, Amphibious Combat and Sealift SPO, RAN, and Captain Bradley Smith, Director, Amphibious Combat and Sealift SPO, RAN.(Photo: NSM) The four-and-a-half-year subcontractor agreement will see L3Harris being responsible for the Integrated Communication Systems (ICS) maintenance and support, as well as the Through Life Support Facility (TLSF), ensuring the LHD and its capabilities are seaworthy, reliable and mission ready. This contract builds on NSM current role as the LHD prime contractor, which officially got underway on 1 July 2019 following a successful six-month phase-in period. NSM’s General Manger, Joe Smith, said the contract is an example of NSM’s inclusive approach to naval sustainment. “L3Harris has always been recognised as a key component of our LHD ACPC team and is already a signatory to the LHD Enterprise Charter, formalised on 1 July 2019, which sets out the vision, mission, values and behaviours within the LHD Enterprise.” “This strategic relationship with L3Harris will allow us both to provide more efficient and effective sustainment support to the LHD Enterprise. As the LHD Asset Class Prime Contractor, we have enjoyed taking the lead with L3Harris on defining NSM’s first Enterprise Agreement, and are actively engaged with other strategic partners to develop similar agreements that will further benefit the LHD Enterprise,” he said. “This contract represents L3Harris’ ongoing commitment to supporting the Royal Australian Navy,” said Alan Titheridge, Managing Director, L3Harris Technologies Australia Group. “We’re pleased to be working with NSM and investing in additional capability to provide world-class engineering, procurement, maintenance and project management services for Australia’s largest and most complex surface vessel, enabling the RAN to effectively communicate at sea.” The RAN’s two LHDs, the HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, are currently the largest ships in the Navy’s fleet, and have shown to be very versatile and useful platforms since their commissioning in 2014 and 2015 respectively, having taken part in several real-world operations and demonstrated their amphibious utility in other military exercises. To download the latest issue of Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter, click here