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Common supply contracts have been awarded to over 100 local firms in support of the Future Submarines program.
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Naval Group Australia has confirmed it has issued $10 million in contracts to over 100 local suppliers for the delivery of common technology expected to be used to support the development of the Royal Australian Navy’s 12 next-generation Attack Class submarines.
Common technologies include steels and alloys, insulation, fasteners, pipes, filters, O-rings, hoses, sockets, valves, seals, cables and switches.
Once delivered, items manufactured by suppliers will be subjected to a testing and qualification process, aimed at ensuring they meet the exacting standards required for inclusion in the forthcoming submarine fleet.
Larger volumes of approved items may potentially be used for use in the multi-decade Attack Class construction program.
“A contemporary and advanced submarine of the quality required by the Royal Australian Navy is an extremely complex machine, with around 1 million parts and components,” Naval Group Australia general manager of industry capability development Stuart Lindley said.
“There will be very significant levels of common technology, which has been verified as meeting the highest standards of quality, included in the Attack Class submarines that are sent to sea.
“This represents a huge opportunity for Australian industry to supply components, as we continue to grow the sovereign supply chains which are needed to support this great national endeavour.”
Australian logistics business Customs Agency Services is helping facilitate the receipt, warehousing and distribution of common technology products.
Customs Agency Services director Mark Callus said the Naval Group collaboration would bolster the workforce and boost infrastructure, supporting the development of defence logistics capability.
“Our team is proud to be doing its part to support the Future Submarine Program, and working with both Naval Group Australia and businesses in the national supply chain,” Callus said.
“It has required us to ensure additional levels of security and compliance, but those investments position us well to pursue future expansion as Australia’s defence industries keep growing.”
Naval Group executive vice president for the Future Submarine Program Lilian Brayle said the shipbuilding prime would also offer opportunities for local industry to manufacture new and complex items as part of a $900 million package.
“The common technology program offers local suppliers a chance to get their existing products into the program’s supply chain, and the Attack Class submarines themselves,” Brayle said.
“We also have other opportunities, including our $900 million local manufacturing package for the delivery of 23 complex items of submarine machinery, which is transferring technology from France to Australia and assisting local industry to make new items for the first time.
“The Future Submarine Program is creating hundreds of Australian jobs, and across a wide range of supplier opportunities. These are long-term opportunities which will last for decades.”
According to Naval Group, over 2,000 businesses in Australia have registered their interest via the Naval Group Australia Industry Capability Network portal.
[Related: Local industry invited to deliver bespoke support for SEA 1000]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
