SPOTLIGHT: Maritime sustainment, mission-ready maintenance and resilient fleet capability, with Serco’s David Astbury

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

The world of maritime operations is built on a bedrock foundation of modern naval sustainment.

The world of maritime operations is built on a bedrock foundation of modern naval sustainment.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by David Astbury, Asia-Pacific general manager for Defence at Serco, to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping maritime maintenance and sustainment.

Kuper and Astbury discuss the growing importance of resilient, sovereign sustainment capabilities as Australia prepares for the delivery of future naval platforms, including AUKUS submarines and an expanded surface fleet.

 
 

The pair explore advancements in autonomous systems and digital technologies that are reshaping traditional sustainment models, requiring new skill sets across electrical, electronic and software domains.

They discuss the impact of life cycle management, with defence organisations placing greater emphasis on designing platforms with sustainment and upgrade pathways in mind. Platforms must be adaptable, with more frequent upgrades and modular architectures.

Cost pressures remain a key challenge but looking ahead, they examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence in maintenance and diagnostics, enabling faster decision making and reducing reliance on traditional support models.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Anzac Day reflections, veteran support reform and ADF workforce trends, with Minister Matt Keogh
Episode 10: SPOTLIGHT: Open-source growth across defence and national security, with SUSE CMO Margaret Dawson
Episode 9: CONTESTED GROUND: Shipping, supply chains and Australia’s exposure to a volatile system, with UNSW’s Professor Douglas Guilfoyle and Associate Professor Daniel Prior
Episode 8: PODCAST: Military drone racing, FPV integration and warfare trends, with Wing Commander Keirin Joyce
Episode 7: PODCAST: ADF promotions, Middle East aftershocks and dreaded Defence budget cuts
Episode 6: CONTESTED GROUND: Successive governments have failed to prepare Australia for the era of polycrisis, with Marc Ablong PSM, Geostrategic Risk Partners
Episode 5: SPOTLIGHT: Crewed, uncrewed, mass and increasing contemporary maritime combat capabilities, with Kevin ‘Q’ Quarderer of Leidos Australia and MAJGEN (Ret’d) Mick Ryan
Episode 4: PODCAST: Fleet readiness, future warfare and Australia’s naval strategy, with Commodore Antony Pisani
Episode 3: THE PROGRESS REPORT: Direct hit over Baghdad – the pilot who outflew a surface-to-air missile
Episode 2: SPOTLIGHT: Subs may be the centrepiece – but infrastructure, workforce and sovereign capability will decide the outcome, with Stantec’s Chris Waywell, Rob Sansbury and Robert Fogel