Collaboration between French and Australian firms for Cairns.

According to a press release published by Thales on March 12, 2021, in Cairns, Thales Australia, Austal and Tropical Reef Shipyard signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the Australian Government’s National Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise.
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HMAS Armidale (ACPB 83), is the lead ship of the Armidale class of patrol boats serving in the Royal Australian Navy RAN (Picture source: Thales)

The local and efficient delivery of Ship Support, Sustainment and Lifecycle Management is critical to support the Royal Australian Navy’s ability to fight and win at sea.

Thales Australia, Austal and Tropical Reef Shipyard recognise that close collaborative relationships between industrial partners and suppliers are essential to ensure Navy has the capability it needs.

The MoU prioritises the development of local professional, technical and trade skills of the Far North Queensland region. It focusses on the capability assurance of Navy assets through the delivery of project management, and ship repair and defect rectification services to Navy from Cairns.

Thales Australia Vice President Above Water Systems Max Kufner said that Thales’s highest priority is ensuring that CASG and Navy is able to achieve and sustain mission capability.

Federal Member for Leichardt the Hon Warren Entsch said that “this MoU signing is a great example of how capable our local defence industry is building upon this region being a regional maintenance and sustainment hub.