Naval Group Australia, the prime contractor for the Australian Attack-class submarine construction, has entered into a framework agreement with ASC for cooperation on the AU$50 billion project.
The agreement details the terms and conditions through which Naval Group Australia and the government-owned ASC will collaborate through separate commercial arrangements for the provision of supplies and services to each other.
This will include joint workforce development through the co-ordination of resources and talent pools for the planning of future activities in support of both Australian submarine programs. ASC will also help Naval Group Australia grow its own safety program in Australia. Finally, the two sides will draw on each other’s existing supply chain knowledge to further develop the supply chains and opportunities for local industry.
Naval Group Australia and ASC will establish joint working groups to manage the framework agreement and identify, develop and recommend other collaboration opportunities.
“Naval Group and ASC are natural partners,” said John Davis, CEO, Naval Group Australia. “We share common values and are ideally placed to maximise the synergies between the ongoing Collins-class sustainment program and the design and build of the Attack-class submarines.”
“It’s an exciting time for ASC and our people to be working with Naval Group for the Attack-class submarine program and this agreement will provide Collins-class life-extension program access to Naval Group technology,” ASC CEO Stuart Whiley said. “With Naval Group and ASC working together, I’m confident that both Australian sovereign submarine programs will deliver for Australia now and in the future.”
Australia’s Future Submarine construction will take place at the Hunter class construction yard which will be located at Osborne Naval Shipyard and managed by the government-owned Australian Naval Infrastructure which was established in 2017. The lead boat – HMAS Attack – is scheduled to be delivered in the early 2030s.