In anticipation of the results of the Australian $50 billion bid to build a fleet of new submarines the Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) has appointed a general manager for future submarines.
Martin Edwards has been named to the position which previously did not exist in the company.
“Mr Edwards takes the position at a time of exciting change for the Future Submarine Project as the Government considers which design partner to select from the Competitive Evaluation Process”, the company said.
The evaluation process is almost finished as recent reports in Australian media indicate that a definitive decision on the preferred submarine builder might be made before the eventual Australian federal election in July.
Edwards takes on the new role – effective immediately – from his previous position as ASC Shipbuilding Chief Operating Officer. He has almost 25 years of combined experience with ASC across the Collins Class and Air Warfare Destroyer build programs and additional experience in the offshore oil and gas sector.
“ASC is ready, willing and able to make a vital contribution to the Future Submarine project from the earliest stages”, Edwards said.
The Australian company said it has worked and shared information with all three overseas submarine designers as part of the Government’s competitive evaluation process.
ASC was chosen in 1987 as the prime contractor for the design, manufacture and delivery of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fleet of six Collins Class submarines.
At the conclusion of the Collins Class submarine build program in 2003, ASC commenced a 25-year contract with Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) for the ongoing repair, maintenance and design upgrades of the submarines through life. This contract was replaced with a new In Service Support Contract in mid-2012.
In 2005, ASC was awarded the role of Shipbuilder for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project.