BAE Systems Australia has welcomed an $89 million, five-year contract extension with the Commonwealth of Australia to provide in-service periscope support for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) six Collins Class submarines.
The contract, announced by the Commonwealth, will provide ongoing support for the Collins Class submarines’ periscopes through to the 2030s. It will ensure the continuation of maintenance and logistics services, engineering and supply support and program management of 16 periscope systems at BAE Systems’ purpose-built Mawson Lakes facility in South Australia and HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
Each Collins Class submarine has an Attack and Search periscope, and these are extensively overhauled and recertified to ensure their materiel readiness and continuing structural integrity.
Under its In-Service Support Contract, BAE Systems has developed a local and global supply chain network, delivering sovereign capability to support the RAN’s submarine force and its role in defending Australia and its national interests.
The company has manufactured, sustained and upgraded the periscope systems for the Collins fleet for the life of their service with the RAN.
During the build phase alone, BAE Systems, in collaboration with its supply chain, locally manufactured the optic, electronics, cables and mechanical parts of the periscope to achieve high levels of Australian industry content.
Andrew Gresham, BAE Systems Australia Managing Director, Defence Delivery, said, “BAE Systems Australia is a long-term sovereign capability partner to the Royal Australian Navy with more than three decades of expertise in the manufacture and build, sustainment and upgrade of Collins Class submarine periscope systems.
“We are delighted to confirm a five-year contract extension, building on our large body of work with the Submarine Enterprise that ensures the continued operation of the periscope systems, which are critical for the Collins Class fleet.
“Today’s announcement underscores the importance of our company’s long-standing experience in delivering periscope systems in Australia and our local network of trusted industry partners delivering into the sustainment program.”
