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BAE Systems Australia is calling on Australian industry to register their interest to participate in key supplier roles to support the Royal Australian Navy’s $35 billion Hunter Class frigate program.
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BAE Systems has a number of opportunities open to Australian suppliers through the Industry Capability Network (ICN). The program is currently in design and productionisation (D&P) phase.
There are a number of opportunities for Australian industry to participate in the SEA 5000 program, including:
- Fin stabiliser and steering gear assembly and test;
- Fin stabiliser and steering gear castings;
- Fin stabiliser and steering gear forgings;
- Fin stabiliser and steering gear major fabrications;
- Fin stabiliser/steering gear hydraulic power units;
- Supply of fixed bolted propellers; and
- Replenishment at sea (RAS) sliding high points.
The above opportunities will close on Tuesday, 31 March 2020 and an additional opportunity to provide cyber security services closes on 3 April 2020.
The Hunter program is the largest surface combatant acquisition program in Australia’s history. ASC Shipbuilding predicts it will create and sustain more than 4,000 jobs across their business and the wider Australian defence supply chain over the life of the program.
In June 2018, the Commonwealth government announced BAE Systems Australia as the successful tender for the $35 billion SEA 5000 Future Frigate program.
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 RAN 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 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 benefiting from the 48,000 tonnes of steel required to build the ships
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.
