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BAE Systems Australia has contracted Score Australasia to supply and test valves for the first three anti-submarine warfare frigates, which will play a crucial role protecting Australians and Australia’s interests for decades to come.
Working with the global independent valve company and the Commonwealth, the company has secured a commitment from Score that a significant amount of value ($26 million) and contracts will flow through the Australian supply chain.
According to BAE Systems Australia CEO Ben Hudson, securing such a significant portion of the valves scope for Australian companies is testament to the teams’ collaboration with industry and the Commonwealth.
“We are committed to maximising opportunities for Australian businesses and thus creating Australian jobs, so we’re delighted a significant portion of valve assembly and testing will be done in Australia, by Australians.
“As the Hunter program matures towards the second batch of Hunter class frigates, there will be opportunities for other Australian businesses to join the valves supply chain.
"Twelve companies from five states will be subcontracted by Score to part manufacture, supply and assemble more than 300 different types of wholeship valves.
“Growing Australian industry capability is essential to ensure we support Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy for future generations,” Hudson said.
Significant engagement and market analysis was undertaken to ensure a value for money outcome was achieved that maximised benefits for Australian industry, including building the capability to support continuous naval shipbuilding for future defence projects.
Score Australasia director Keith Simpson added that this is a huge opportunity for Australian manufacturing.
“We look forward to working with local manufacturers, both current and new, in achieving the best possible outcomes for the Hunter program and for Australian industry.
“We are committed to driving sovereign capability by increasing Australian manufacturing content and adding value to the local economy through the entire supply chain,” Simpson said.
There are 305 types of valves in each Hunter class frigate, and 5,273 valves per ship. The largest valves are upwards of 400 millimetres bore size, while the smallest is 5mm. Valves are spread throughout the warship in the many different subsystems.
At the state-of-the-art Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, BAE Systems Australia will build nine of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Royal Australian Navy – a formidable fleet of warships critical to helping protect the nation for decades to come.
[Related: Labor proposes regional defence procurement revamp]
