Naval Group Australia has announced that it has issued over $10 million in contracts ‘to more than 100 local companies’ to supply and test common technology components which are being considered for use in the new Attack Class submarines.
Naval Group said the contracts include procurement of potential Attack Class components from more than 100 Australia-based businesses, as well as testing and qualification services to assess their suitability for use in the country’s new and advanced submarines.
Items categorised as common technology for the Attack Class project include steels and alloys, insulation, fasteners, pipes, filters, O-rings, hoses, sockets, valves, seals, cables and switches.
These items are submitted to a rigorous testing and qualification process carried out in collaboration with several Australian companies to ensure they meet the exacting standards required for inclusion in the submarines.
Naval Group Australia General Manager of Industry Capability Development, Stuart Lindley, said that for approved products and their suppliers, there was potential for larger volumes to be purchased 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 one million parts and components,” Mr 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.”
Naval Group Executive Vice President for the Future Submarine Program Lilian Brayle said there were also opportunities for local industry and businesses to manufacture new and complex items.
“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,” he 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.”
