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The Industry Capability Network (ICN) Gateway has been updated to include a taxonomy for the defence industry. The update comes in time for businesses to express interest in the $35 billion SEA 5000 Hunter Class frigate work packages leading up to production in Osborne, South Australia.
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ASC Shipbuilding, the prime contractor for the $35 billion Future Frigates program, will need an extensive Australian defence industry supply chain, creating unprecedented local and global opportunities for Australian businesses.
The ICN Gateway is used to link suppliers to the buyer by issuing work packages. If your business is defence-ready and can supply to the Future Frigates project, you can register your capability or update your existing company profile on the ICN Gateway.
The new taxonomy introduces a breakdown of defence industry capabilities, making it easier for businesses to articulate their capabilities and receive more relevant work packages. The taxonomy is designed to enhance industry participation by enabling the buyer to have a larger and better selection pool of Australian suppliers to award contracts.
ICN Limited executive director Derek Lark said, "This is a great opportunity for Australian companies wanting to expand into the defence sector."
The update to the taxonomy was designed by a panel of experts from the Department of Defence, Department of Industry Innovation and Science, Centre for Defence Industry Capability, Defence South Australia, Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), BAE Systems, Naval Group and ICN South Australia.
The nine Hunter Class frigates will be based on the BAE Systems Type 26 Global Combat Ship currently under construction for the Royal Navy and will replace the eight Anzac Class frigates when they enter service beginning in the late 2020s.
The Hunter Class is billed as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) centric vessel delivering an advanced ASW capability to the Royal Australian Navy at a time when 50 per cent of the world’s submarines will be operating in the Indo-Pacific region.
BAE Systems Australia announced that it had selected Lockheed Martin Australia and Saab Australia as combat systems integration industry partners, responsible for delivering the Australian designed CEAFAR 2 Active Phased Array Radar, Lockheed Martin designed Aegis combat management system and Saab Australia 9LV tactical interface.
The $35 billion program sees ASC Shipbuilding become a subsidiary of BAE Systems throughout the build process beginning in 2020 at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia, creating more than 4,000 jobs. BAE Systems expects the Australian industry content (AIC) for the Hunter Class build will be 65-70 per cent, which will create and secure thousands of jobs for decades.
At the end of the program, the Commonwealth will resume complete ownership of ASC Shipbuilding, thereby ensuring the retention in Australia of intellectual property, a highly skilled workforce and the associated equipment.
SEA 5000 is expected to support over 500 Australian businesses who have been pre-qualified to be part of the Hunter class supply chain, with the Australian steel industry in particular, benefitting from the 48,000 tonnes of steel required to build the ships.
To register for major defence projects on the ICN Gateway your business needs to meet certain requirements, such as having a history of strong supply performance and an appropriate quality assurance program. If you haven’t supplied to defence projects before, find out about preparing to work in the defence industry.
If your business is already registered on the ICN Gateway, you should review and update your company profile by selecting capabilities in the updated defence taxonomy.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
