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Australian naval contractor Eptec Defence Solutions has secured a significant 10-year contract to provide abrasive blasting and painting services for the Hunter Class Frigate Program, a cornerstone of the Royal Australian Navy’s future capability.
While the contract’s value remains commercial in confidence, it is the largest supply agreement in Eptec’s history and will see the company deliver critical services for the first three Hunter Class anti-submarine warfare frigates being constructed by BAE Systems Maritime Australia at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.
The Hunter Class program is one of the largest defence acquisitions in Australia’s history and forms a key pillar of the nation’s sovereign continuous naval shipbuilding enterprise.
Designed to replace the ageing Anzac Class frigates, the nine Hunter Class frigates will provide advanced undersea warfare capabilities and are based on the UK’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship, adapted to meet Australian requirements.
Eptec, an Australian company with over 25 years’ experience delivering naval, marine and industrial asset preservation services, is a long-standing partner to the Department of Defence and BAE Systems Australia. It is also a participant in the Partnering for Success program, an initiative aimed at strengthening sovereign capability through collaboration with small and medium enterprises.
Paul Berryman, acting managing director of BAE Systems Maritime Australia, welcomed the new agreement, saying, “We welcome Eptec into the Osborne Naval Shipyard and look forward to a successful partnership with Pier and his team. Our partnership with the Commonwealth to deliver the Hunter program is a world-class enterprise building stealth-capable anti-submarine frigates that will be in service for decades.”
The blast and paint process is vital in protecting warships from the harsh marine environment, especially given the high-endurance deployments expected of the Hunter Class, which will operate extensively throughout the Indo-Pacific. The application of specialist coatings also plays a key role in minimising a vessel’s radar signature – an essential feature of modern stealth warships.
Berryman added, “Blast and paint services are a critical factor when it comes to ensuring the longevity of each frigate, and the Eptec team is renowned for its global expertise and capability in the preservation of naval ships.”
Pier Nissotti, general manager of Eptec Defence Solutions, said the contract reflects the culmination of a long-term strategic focus on building domestic defence capability, adding, “This contract is the culmination of a decade of focused investment in our defence safety, quality, people, technology and equipment and clearly demonstrates the unique delivery capabilities Eptec offers key defence clients.”
The agreement will create jobs and new opportunities at Eptec’s operations across the country, particularly in South Australia, and adds to the growing industrial base supporting Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy.
Nissotti said, “As the largest Australian industry provider of our specialised services, our capabilities and track record of successful project delivery are unmatched.”
The Hunter program currently supports more than 2,500 workers at Osborne and is projected to sustain thousands more throughout its life cycle. This latest contract marks another major milestone in building the Royal Australian Navy’s next-generation surface combatant fleet.
