Thales Australia’s WA manager Gregg Bohan said the new recruits would join a high performance team providing critical support to the Collins program.

“Thales has been a long-term partner with the RAN on the Collins enterprise, providing sonar systems and integration along with service and support," Bohan said.

“Our WA team provides engineering analysis, investigation, repairs and replacement of key systems. Delivering an important contribution to Australia’s sovereign capability in underwater systems.”

Last year, Thales won a $230 million project to upgrade the Collins Class sensor capabilities of the submarines, with manufacturing and integration work carried out in their underwater systems centre of excellence in Rydalmere, NSW.

Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said at the time that the Collins sonar upgrades continued a 30-year history of support for the Collins program since the original transfer of sonar technology from France in the 1980s that formed the basis of the underwater systems business in Australia.

“It is critical that Australia maintain the highest levels of submarine capability from the Collins fleet until the Future Submarine enters service. The sonar systems are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the submarines, and Thales will bring together the best underwater sensing technology from around the world to ensure the Collins remains a potent force,” Jenkins said in June 2018.