Today marks the two year anniversary of Naval Group being selected by the Australian Government as the international partner for the design and build of 12 regionally superior submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
Naval Group image.
Since being awarded the contract, we have achieved some significant company, industry and Program milestones. We are only two years into a 50 year program and while much has been achieved, we still have a long way to go.
We remain committed to delivering a regionally superior submarine by bringing international experience and technology together with local capabilities to upskill Australia and support Australia become a sovereign submarine nation. This is a requirement of the Australian Government and we are working in partnership with the Department of Defence to fulfil this requirement.
Program milestones
Officially opened the Future Submarine Program office in Cherbourg housing Naval Group personnel alongside their Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia colleagues;
Commenced the master planning studies to inform the design and build of the Future Submarine Construction yard in Adelaide;
The first stage of the submarine design, known as the functional analysis was completed on schedule in October 2017 culminating in a successful preliminary system requirements review;
Sent the first group of Australian engineers over to France to undertake specific design training for Australia’s Future Submarine. The mission is an important step in the Transfer of Technology from France to Australia to establish submarine sovereignty; and
Awarded the Design Services Subcontract (DSCC) to KBR to assist with the concept design of the proposed Future Submarine (SEA1000) construction yard at the Osborne Naval Shipbuilding precinct in South Australia.
Australian Industry milestones
Conducted eight Future Submarine industry briefings across the nation providing Australian companies information on how to become involved in the Future Submarine Program;
Suppliers for the top five pieces of equipment are currently being reviewed. They include:
the submarine’s main motor,
diesel generators,
switchboards
batteries, and
weapons discharge systems.
Released Expressions of Interests and Requests for Information for major equipment and common technologies equipment for the Future Submarine; and
We have worked and continue to work with education facilities, TAFEs and universities, having forged a collaborative engineering and research Memorandum of Understanding with the University of New South Wales.
Company Milestones
Expanded the Naval Group Australia team from 15 employees to 74 and are due to double in size to approximately 155 in 2018;
Partnered with the Indigenous Defence Consortium (IDC) to explore opportunities to include Indigenous Australians and Indigenous businesses within Naval Group’s supply chain;
Participated in the Pacific 2017 International Maritime Exposition where we demonstrated how we will design and deliver 12 regionally superior submarines;
Signed an MoU with the Australian Council of Trade Unions which outlined the partnership principles that will govern how the parties will work together going forwards; and
Successfully became ISO 9001 certified.
Video on Australia's future submarine
Australia's Future Submarine Program:
The Australian Government selected Naval Group (then known as DCNS) as its preferred international partner for the design of 12 Future submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The announcement was made on April 26 2016 by the Australian Prime Minister the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon. Christopher Pyne and The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett. DCNS was competing with the Shortfin Barracuda design against TKMS' Type 216 and Japan's Soryu class designs. Based on the French Navy Barracuda SSN currently in final stage of construction, Australia's future submarine will be will be 97 meters in length and 8.8 meters in diameter.
In September 2017, Lockheed Martin was selected as the preffered combat system integrator. All 12 submarines are expected to be built in Adelaide (South Australia) with technology transfer from Naval Group.
