Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that Thales has been awarded a $22.2 million contract to update sonar equipment for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines.
The contract will involve replacing obsolescent electronic components to improve reliability and help to reduce space, weight and power requirements.
Mr Clare said the majority of specialist engineering and logistics work will be performed in the Thales facility at Rydalmere, NSW.
“The sonar system on the Collins Class submarines uses acoustic signals to safely navigate and operate effectively underwater,” Mr Clare said.
“The updating of this equipment is key to ensuring our Collins Class submarines remain operationally capable and reliable.”
Thales currently holds the contract for in-service support for the Collins sonar system and is the original manufacturer of the equipment.
The Government has allocated an additional $700 million over the next four years for Collins Class submarine sustainment.
The Collins Class submarine provides maritime surveillance, maritime strike and interdiction, reconnaissance and intelligence collection capability to the Australian Defence Force.