iscover
Navantia Australia has been awarded the designer support contract to provide comprehensive design and engineering support for all Navantia-designed ships in service with the Royal Australian Navy.
This milestone contract is Navantia Australia’s first directly with the Commonwealth of Australia (CoA), reinforcing its commitment to innovation and excellence in the maritime industry.
The designer support contract (DSC) covers support for the Hobart Class destroyers (DDG), Canberra Class landing helicopter docks (LHD), LHD landing craft (LLC), and Supply Class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels (AOR). The contract follows an extensive request for tender process and negotiations with the Department of Defence.
A signing ceremony was held today at Fleet Headquarters in Sydney, attended by senior defence officials, including Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Chris Smith, AM, CSM; Head Maritime Sustainment, Rear Admiral Steve Tiffen, AM, CSM; and Deputy General Major Surface Ships, Commodore Brad Smith, CSC. Navantia Australia managing director Israel Lozano, chief operations officer (COO) Jamie Gibbs, and DSC program director Julio Pinilla, also attended.
Recognising the significance of this contract, Navantia chairman Ricardo Dominguez Garcia-Baquero, Navantia Spain COO Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero, and chairman adviser and Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Javier Romero, were also present.
“This contract is the result of our experience in life cycle support and our commitment to the Commonwealth of Australia,” Navantia chairman Dominguez Garcia-Baquero said.
Israel Lozano noted that the agreement builds on the Strategic Agreement Principles document signed between the Royal Australian Navy, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Navantia, and Navantia Australia. This document designates Navantia Australia as the platform design agent for all Navantia-designed vessels.
“The DSC provides end-to-end change management and engineering services for the contracted assets, enabling Navantia Australia to partner with the CoA and explore innovative solutions for sustainment and asset management,” Lozano said. “This contract consolidates Navantia Australia’s existing support services for the Royal Australian Navy’s DDGs, LHDs, LLCs, and AORs into a single contractual arrangement.”
Navantia Spain COO Mateo-Guerrero highlighted the DSC’s importance in the new Maritime Sustainment Model, stating, “Navantia Australia’s deep product knowledge and baseline management will facilitate design integrity throughout sustainment and continuous improvement activities. Collaboration within the enterprise environment will ensure the Navy’s fleet remains seaworthy, available, and cost-effective throughout its life cycle.”
By appointing Navantia Australia as the single DSC entity for these assets, the CoA aims to enhance cross-platform efficiencies, including supply chain support and sovereign innovation opportunities.
Jamie Gibbs described the CoA’s decision as a significant milestone for the company. “The DSC is the largest single contract Navantia Australia has secured in our 13 years of operation. It provides our workforce and the broader industry with long-term stability and enables us to expand our local footprint, keeping more engineering jobs within Australia.”
The DSC framework ensures continued investment in sovereign engineering capabilities, fostering collaborations with academia and industry to develop future maritime and defence expertise. Navantia Australia remains committed to strengthening Australia’s sovereign engineering capabilities through the DSC and looks forward to a long-term partnership with the Commonwealth of Australia.
