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International defence and government services provider Serco has been awarded a new indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract to continue supporting the US Navy’s submarine communications systems in a deal valued at up to AU$150 million.
The 10-year agreement will see Serco provide maintenance, repair and upgrade services for the Submarine High Data Rate (SubHDR) Antenna Pedestal Group, a mission-critical system that enables secure wide-band communications for the US Navy’s submarine fleet.
The technology underpins the ability of nuclear-powered submarines to transmit and receive sensitive information, including secure voice and data, imagery and video conferencing while remaining at sea.
Peter Behrendt, Serco’s managing director for defence Asia-Pacific, said the win demonstrated the company’s global role in supporting allied navies, explaining, “This contract showcases Serco’s global defence reach, and we are proud to support these submarine capabilities for our allies.”
The new contract continues a partnership that has spanned more than two decades, with Serco already a long-term provider of sustainment and technical support for the SubHDR program.
Much of the work will be undertaken at the company’s production and repair facility in Ludlow, Massachusetts, while additional services will be delivered in Newport, Rhode Island.
Serco Group chief executive Anthony Kirby added that the award reflected both the trust placed in Serco by the US Navy and the company’s growing profile in maritime sustainment.
“We are delighted to continue our support for the US Navy’s SubHDR systems, which provide a critical communications capability to the US fleet. This recompete reflects Serco’s extensive capabilities in the maritime sector, and we are honoured to help the US Navy maintain its competitive edge over the next decade,” Kirby said.
The SubHDR system is a key enabler of US undersea dominance, allowing submarines to operate as connected assets in joint and coalition operations. With global tensions rising and many governments reinvesting in submarine capability, the program highlights the growing strategic importance of secure undersea communications.
Serco, which employs around 50,000 people worldwide, provides defence and national security services to a range of governments, including Australia, where the company supports naval sustainment, defence estate management and integrated maritime services.
