At PACIFIC 2019, Naval Group demonstrated to participants the nature of its involvement with Australian industry.
As the Platform System Integrator for the Future Submarine program, Naval group engaged industry in a briefing on the project, outlining progress on the Attack Class submarine program.
In attendance were 700 Australian and international companies, as well as research and development, and educational institutions. The briefing covered the current design of the Submarine Construction Yard in Adelaide, as well as upcoming procurement activities.
Tier 1 suppliers, MTU and Penske Power Systems shared their engagement with the submarine building program, as the designers of the diesel generator rectifiers for the submarines.
“The purpose of this briefing is to reinforce to Australian industry that they will be the first point of consideration for the delivery requirements of the Attack class program at every point of the design, build phase,” said John David, CEO, Naval Group Australia.
“To achieve this, we need to maintain a strong relationship with Australian industry to achieve long-term sustainable capability.”
In addition to this briefing, Naval Group showcased some of the emerging systems being developed elsewhere in the world.
Naval Group demonstrated the solution for stand-off Mines Counter Measures, which have been purchased by the navies of Belgium and the Netherlands, at a joint briefing with ECA group. Australia is also looking to replace its mine clearing Huon class fleet, with Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announcing in April 2019 that the building of new vessels will be brought forward to the 2020s.
Highlighting the emerging use of unmanned systems in a naval context, the warships combine with a system of drones, known as toolboxes, for the detection and clearance of mine fields at sea. The vessel can launch and recover unmanned surface vehicles. Maintenance and upkeep of the up to 50 drones in the toolbox can be done on-board.
Construction of the boats will begin in 2021 for delivery in 2024. At the briefing, Naval Group highlighted the need for SMEs to develop the independently operated unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, the configuration of which can be altered based on the mission’s objectives.