Two Australian companies have won contracts to work on the Type 26 Global combat ship being built by BAE Systems in the United Kingdom. These contracts were awarded to Liferaft Systems Australia and Mackay Consolidated Industries under the Defence Global Supply Chain (GSC) program which is managed by the Centre for Defence Industry Capability.
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said the program would provide export opportunities for Australian small-to-medium sized companies in the supply chains of prime defence contractors.
“I am delighted Tasmanian-based Liferaft Systems Australia will provide the ship’s Marine Evacuation System, while Victorian-based Mackay Consolidated Industries will supply pipe hanger inserts,” Pyne said.
“These two contracts demonstrate Australian defence industry’s world-class capabilities and will support around 220 Australian jobs.”
Pyne said he expected further Australian companies would benefit from the United Kingdom’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship program in the future.
“Australian companies that demonstrate their ingenuity are valued by global prime companies in the United Kingdom and in other markets around the world,” Minister Pyne said.
“This highlights the global competitiveness of our Australian defence industry.
“Promoting Australia’s world class capabilities to our foreign defence partners and the international prime companies is a core element in the defence export strategy, which will be released later this year.”
Pyne also met with Mr Charles Woodburn, CEO of BAE Systems, to discuss further export opportunities for Australian companies within BAE Systems’ global supply chains.
Since 2007, the participating GSC primes have awarded close to $1 billion of work to predominantly small-to-medium sized enterprises in Australia.
“BAE Systems Australia has one of the nation’s largest defence supply chains and a long and successful history of working closely with Australian suppliers, to open up both local and international opportunities,” Pyne said.
