Australia's Future Submarine Combat System Continues To Make Progress.

Australia's Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced another significant milestone in the future submarine programme, creating more Australian jobs and investment.

The contract will cover work to 2022, including the design of the Combat System and procurement activities to select subsystem and component suppliers.

A $700 million contract has been signed with Lockheed Martin Australia for the Future Submarine Combat System Design, Build and Integration, creating 200 new jobs, majority of which will be based in South Australia.

“Today marks a further step forward in our partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia in delivering a fleet of regionally superior submarines to Australia,” Minister Pyne said.

“This contract will cover work to 2022, including the design of the Combat System and procurement activities to select subsystem and component suppliers.

“These are high tech jobs of the future, the jobs the Government has committed to creating as part of our historic $200 billion defence investment over the next decade. There will be many more to come.

“The future submarine programme remains on time and on budget, further demonstrated by this milestone event.”

Lockheed Martin Australia was selected as the Future Submarine Combat System Integrator in September 2016.

“The company has worked with Defence to successfully complete initial design work for the Future Submarine Combat System under an earlier contract signed in November 2016.

“This Future Submarine Combat System Design, Build and Integration Contract is another example of the Turnbull Government’s commitment to Australia’s defence industry, and an on‑schedule achievement in the delivery of Australia’s future naval shipbuilding capability."

Artist impression of Australia's future submarine. Naval Group image.

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, the Shortfin Barracuda is 3 meters shorter (94 meters) and 200 tons lighter (4,500 tons). In September, 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 DCNS.