News Story: BAE Systems targets Australian companies for possible Type 26 supply chain roles

Type 26 Global Combat Ship for Australia's SEA 5000

BAE Systems has declared that it intends to open up the supply chain for the UK’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship program, with 150 Australian companies set to pitch their products and services.

BAE Systems together with 20 of its major suppliers, including Rohde & Schwarz, Rolls-Royce, David Brown Santasalo, L-3 and Babcock, will be in Canberra to meet Australian SMEs over the next two days.

As well as having an opportunity to meet with BAE Systems and its suppliers, SMEs will hear from companies that have been successful in securing global defence contracts and learn more about what it takes to be part of a global supply chain, BAE Systems Australia stated.

Read the full story at Australian Defence Business Review << UK Type 26 Variant Pictured

Industry: Babcock establishes Australasian headquarters in Adelaide

Babcock International Group today (14 Jul 2016* ) announced it will establish its Australasian headquarters in Adelaide with the relocation of its Mission Critical Services and Offshore Services businesses to South Australia as part of the company’s aggressive regional growth strategy.

Babcock’s aviation businesses, Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia and Babcock Offshore Services Australasia, will formally become part of an existing Adelaide based management team at a new site in the Adelaide Central Business District under an agreement with the Government of South Australia.

Babcock is a global engineering support services company incorporating assets and expertise across industries including defence, nuclear, telecommunications, transport, emergency services, minerals and energy and education industries. It operates in 16 countries and employs more than 35,000 people with annual revenues of $AUS 8billion. In Australia and New Zealand, Babcock operates in nearly every state and territory - and today employs over 700 staff. 

AUS: ANZAC Class Frigate sustainment

ANZAC class Frigates underway

The Turnbull Government has signed a long-term contract for the sustainment of ANZAC Class Frigates centred in Western Australia.

The strategic partnership between BAE Systems Australia Defence Pty Limited, Saab Australia Pty Ltd, Naval Ship Management Australia Pty Ltd (a joint venture between UGL and Babcock), and the Commonwealth will streamline a number of existing contracts for the whole-of-life sustainment for the ANZAC Class Frigates. The majority of the sustainment work will be done in Henderson, with additional work at Fleet Base East, cementing Henderson as one of Australia’s naval shipbuilding and sustainment centres.

The open ended sustainment contract has a value of over $2 billion for the first eight years and will provide certainty to the principal partners to invest in growing skills and capabilities. It will also provide increased opportunities for the engagement of small-to-medium sized businesses in the Australian maritime industry.

Editorial: Can Japan Win Australia's Submarine Contract?

Japanese Soryu class Submarine (File Photo)

By Mina Pollmann

Domestic factors will play just as much of a role as actual technology when it comes time to select the winning bid.

Australia’s “competitive evaluation process” is pitting Japanese, German, and French submarine builders against each other in a bid to secure a A$50 billion ($38.84 billion) contract to build six to 12 submarines for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). But the competitors – Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), and France’s state-controlled DCNS – are not competing solely on the basis of their design’s superiority, but also on the basis of how far they are willing to go to accommodate South Australian voters’ demands for jobs, and assuage the Liberal party’s concerns about their electoral viability.

Australia is looking for a long-range submarine, about 4,000-tonnes, bigger than the 3,300-tonne Collins that it currently fields. To compete against Japan’s 4,200-tonneSoryu class, TKMS is submitting a 4,000-tonne Type 216, and DCNS is offering a smaller, non-nuclear variant of its 5,300 tonne Barracuda-class submarines.

As part of the ten-month process, Australia is asking each of the competitors to submit three different plans – a plan for building all the submarines in Australia, a plan for building all the submarines abroad, and a hybrid plan that will allow for a mix of production sites.

Due to the secrecy surrounding Japanese interactions with the prime minister’s office, Tony Abbott has been accused of concluding a “secret deal” with Japan. Such charges are overblown, but Abbott’s preference for working with Japan – in part because of U.S. enthusiasm for a Australia-Japan venture – is well documented.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

AUS: Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan & Future submarine Land Based Test Site

Australia's Existing Collins class Submarine

Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the Government has received the Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan.

In December 2011 the Government announced that the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) would develop a Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan to identify what is required to build and sustain the skills required to successfully deliver Australia’s Future Submarine capability.

The Skills Plan has been developed by a team led by the Chief Executive Officer of the DMO, Mr Warren King and supported by an Expert Industry Panel headed by Mr David Mortimer, AO.

The Expert Industry Panel included representatives of DMO, Navy, the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, Skills Australia, relevant Unions, the CEOs of the four principal Australian naval shipbuilding companies (ASC, Austal, BAE Systems and Forgacs Engineering) and the CEOs of the principal naval systems integration companies (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Thales, Saab Systems and BAE Systems).

The Panel has consulted widely with State Governments, Australian industry, Industry Associations, Universities, academic organisations and think tanks to develop this Plan.

The key findings of the Plan are:

• the Australian shipbuilding industry is capable, but important white collar skills are spread thin;
• while some Australian companies can reach back into their parent international organisations for design work, our indigenous design capability for submarine and surface ships is weak;
• the current blue collar work force is limited, with production supervisors and electrical trades being the weakest skill areas; and
• the key to building these skills is a continuous ship building plan with long term, predictable work.

The Government will release the Plan and its response to the Plan next year.

AUS DoD

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Future submarine Land Based Test Site to be based in Adelaide

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that a new facility for testing submarine systems, including propulsion, energy and integration technology, would be based in Adelaide.

In November last year, the Government commissioned a feasibility study into the establishment of a Submarine Propulsion, Energy, Support and Integration Facility, generally referred to as a Land Based Test Site.

The study was undertaken for the Future Submarine Program by Babcock Pty Ltd with input from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). The study identified four functions that could be considered in a facility of this type:

• research and development;
• system integration testing;
• pre-build and assembly testing; and
• training.

Babcock Pty Ltd has now delivered its report. The key finding is that a Land Based Test Site is essential and that it should be located where these functions could be undertaken most efficiently and cost-effectively.

While specific details of the scope of the facility are still under consideration, the Government has decided that the Land Based Test Site will be based in Adelaide, South Australia, where the Future Submarines will be assembled.

The propulsion, energy and drive-train system is a key part of any submarine. The Land Based Test Site will enable this system to be integrated, tested and proved before it is installed into a submarine.

Elements of the facility will also be located in Western Australia (where Navy will have easy access for training purposes) and Victoria (where DSTO maritime specialists are based).

The establishment of a Land Based Test Site is a significant step towards understanding propulsion systems for Australia’s Future Submarines.

The Future Submarine Program will be the largest and most complex Defence project ever undertaken by Australia and with this complexity comes risk.

Regardless of the submarine design option that is ultimately chosen, the establishment of the Land Based Test Site will significantly reduce the risk of delay and cost overruns, poor availability and increased operating and sustainment costs, loss of capability and most importantly, the risk of a catastrophic accident caused by a failure of the power and energy systems.

The Land Based Test Facility will also help ensure that challenges encountered from the maintenance of the Collins Class fleet are addressed.

Further decisions on the form and function of the Land Based Test Site will be announced next year.

AUS DoD

AUS: Air Warfare Destroyer tests torpedos

Spanish F-100, base for Hobart class AWD (Click to Enlarge)

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that firing tests of torpedo launchers for the new Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) have been held in Adelaide.

The tests were part of acceptance testing of the weapon systems for the second destroyer Brisbane and involved firing an MU-90 practice delivery torpedo from an MK32 Mod 9 Surface Vessel torpedo tube. 

The system is made up of three main components – a launcher, an air charging panel and a torpedo loading tray.

“All three destroyers will have MK32 Mod 9 torpedo launchers installed in the port and starboard magazine compartments of the ship,” Mr Clare said.

“The launch system will be capable of deploying lightweight torpedoes against enemy submarines.”

The AWD Alliance has already taken delivery of the first shipset of torpedo launchers for the first destroyer Hobart from subcontractor Babcock after Factory Acceptance Testing was successfully completed in June.

The testing took place at the Techport Australia facility and  included launching the MU-90 practice delivery torpedo from the surface vessel torpedo tubes into a custom designed test rig.

The AWD Alliance is responsible for delivering three of the most complex surface combatants ever built in Australia and is made up of Defence Materiel Organisation, ASC and Raytheon Australia.

The Hobart Class destroyers will provide a significant increase in Australia’s defence capabilities. The destroyers will be the most capable surface combatants ever operated by the Navy.

AUS DoD

Video: Mk 32 Mod 9 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tube Testing

Australian Anzac Support Contract Win

The contract is expected to be valued at A$300 million (c £200 million) over an initial five year period, with an option to extend for a further five years. The final contract is expected to be signed by the end of June 2012 and become operational, after a transitional phase, on 1 January 2013.

This contract marks Babcock's entry into the surface ship support market in Australia at a time when the Australian Department of Defence is seeking to reform its naval ship repair market to ensure optimum value for money while setting high standards of performance. Both Babcock and UGL have proven track records and considerable experience in managing long-term, performance-based maintenance contracts as well as delivering efficient and cost-effective support for major warships.

Babcock and UGL have also been down selected to tender for the Amphibious and Afloat Support Ships' GMC when it is released. This is expected to be by mid 2013.

Commenting on the award Peter Rogers, Chief Executive of Babcock said:

"We are delighted to have won this contract with our partners UGL. We look forward to working with the Australian Government and developing a long-term relationship as we support its plans to deliver a new, cost-efficient, integrated naval support solution.

This success reinforces our confidence in the growth prospects for Babcock in the Australian naval support market."

Babcock

Ernst & Young select Babcock as strategic partner (Royal Australian Navy Engineering Reform)

Ernst & Young (E&Y) has teamed with Babcock to win a contract to provide support to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in delivering a blueprint to 'Rebuild Navy Engineering Capability', following the Rizzo Report.

One of the key strategic actions recommended in Paul Rizzo's 'Plan to Reform Support Ship Repair and Management Practices' report, published in July 2011, was that "Navy Engineering should be rebuilt and reorganised to reduce fragmentation, increase authority, clarify accountability, and enable the Head of Navy Engineering to fulfil his role as the Technical Regulatory Authority."  The report continues: "It should be led by a 2-star Navy Officer to give weight to this important technical and compliance function."

The RAN has moved quickly to appoint Rear Admiral Mick Uzzell to this important role, and the Ernst & Young-Babcock team has, in competition, won a role in supporting this vital work.

The E&Y-Babcock team has brought together dedicated specialists in the various disciplines required to deliver this project, with E&Y leading on the process and Babcock providing its wide-ranging maritime engineering expertise.  The team will draw heavily on RAN subject matter experts to provide input.

Babcock is delighted to be involved in this project, Babcock Pty Ltd Deputy CEO, Rear Admiral Bob Love (ex Royal Navy Chief Naval Engineer) said, stating: "This is a great opportunity to contribute to a very important piece of work.  The output must have wide stakeholder acceptance and become a blueprint for Navy Engineering of today and the future."

Mark Nixon, Ernst & Young's Federal Government and Public Sector leader, said: "The reform of Naval Engineering is a once in a generational opportunity for the Australian Navy to maintain a sustainable capability.  Ernst & Young, with our alliance partner Babcock, is proud to be assisting Navy in building its future."

Babcock

Babcock awarded (Australian) SEA1000 (Submarine) study contract

Existing Collins Class Submarine

Babcock Pty Ltd has begun work on a short term scoping study into land-based propulsion system testing capabilities in support of the SEA1000 future submarine, under a contract awarded to Babcock at the end of 2011 by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).

Babcock has been contracted to undertake a study into the possible requirement for a Submarine Propulsion Energy, Support and Integration Facility (SPESIFy), which would inform engineering development of the future submarines.  The scope of the study includes identification of the benefits that can be realised from such land-based test facilities, and the related technology de-risking aspects. 

A report released last month (December 2011) into Australia's Submarine Design Capabilities and Capacities identified that submarine propulsion systems is an area in which Australia needs to build expertise, and suggested land-based development and test facilities may be a way to begin that process.

Babcock has assembled a team of Australian and worldwide domain knowledge specialists to conduct the study from its Adelaide office.  Babcock will draw on its own staff with knowledge of submarine land based propulsion and energy, test, integration and support systems.  In addition it has engaged others with specific expertise of conventional submarine propulsion and energy systems, including Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Converteam, Ricardo and PMB. 

To ensure informed analysis and innovative solutions, Babcock has involved Sydac, IPACS and Australian SMEs with cutting edge expertise in novel propulsion test and integration as well as the best European expertise in the state of the art facilities, together with Ryder Levett Bucknall, Australian experts in feasibility stage building costing and program definition

Commenting on the contract, Babcock Strategic Development Director Ken Grove said: "We are delighted to be undertaking this study in support of the SEA 1000 Future Submarine Project, which has been described as the biggest and most complex defence project Australia has ever embarked upon.  In delivering this contract we will be applying our extensive knowledge and expertise in generating effective, available submarines to the fleet".

Under the six month contract, Babcock will deliver the findings of study to the DMO by mid 2012.

Babcock

Babcock tests (Australian) AWD torpedo launcher

Spanish F-100 (Hobart Class)

Testing of the assembled Mk32 Mod 9 torpedo launchers for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers is underway at Babcock's Techport Australia premises, representing an important phase in the project.

The contract, awarded to Babcock Pty Ltd by Raytheon Australia in late 2008 on behalf of the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance, involves the adaptation of the system concept originally designed for the US Navy, with some elements of new design, assembly and test of a weapons launching system for use with the MU90 torpedoes for the AWD.

Babcock's international reach-back has been instrumental in facilitating supply, both in working with US government organisations to secure a licence in accordance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and through its links with industry in the US and UK to source some specialist key components from proven suppliers.  Babcock's local presence has seen some 80% of the work undertaken in Australia (a significant increase on the contracted 63% to be completed locally), including using its local supply chain for the manufacture, and undertaking testing at its Techport facility.  All in-service support can be undertaken locally.

Mk32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes

Two Mk32 Mod 9 torpedo launcher assemblies will be mounted in magazine compartments, port and starboard, on each of the three Hobart class AWDs.  The system is made up of three main components; a launcher, an air charging panel and a torpedo loading tray.  The air charging panel and loading tray have been designed by Babcock to meet the requirements of the AWD Alliance.

The ability of the Mk32 Mod9 torpedo launchers to fire a MU90 lightweight torpedo is now being proven in the current test phase, which is being carried out using a custom designed land-based test rig and measuring equipment and safe work procedures.  Factory Acceptance Tests will follow soon afterwards.

"We have made strong progress on the launcher contract, and commencement of testing is a key milestone in this," Babcock director Pat Donovan said.  "As an Australian company our locally based and focused team, coupled with our international reach-back capability, has been key to the delivery of this project."

Babcock

Babcock’s WA (Australia) operation Henderson move underpins

Babcock Pty Ltd's Western Australia operation is to take up new accommodation within the Henderson Marine Complex, in a move that will provide better access and greater flexibility in serving its customers, and supporting the Royal Australian Navy.

The new premises will comprise modern planning and design offices and a 600 m² workshop.  The state of the art facility will be fitted with video conferencing and telecommunication facilities to allow fully integrated communications with suppliers, customers and other divisions with the Babcock International Group.  The workshop will be furnished with the latest equipment aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs, all contributing towards increasing service availability of a variety of naval equipments, now and in the future.

Mark Powell, general manager of Babcock's West Australian operation, is overseeing the design and development of the new building.  "The new facility is tailored to suit our current requirements, with the flexibility for reconfiguration to respond to our growing business needs," he said.  "This move underpins Babcock's commitment to working closely with its customers in supporting the Royal Australian Navy.  It will provide a better working environment for our people, and demonstrates our confidence in our business going forward."

The design and development of the new building is currently underway, with construction due to commence in the second quarter of 2012, to be ready for occupation by the end of the year.  Architects have been asked to provide a facility that recognises the latest in environmental design making good use of natural and energy efficient lighting.

Babcock Pty Ltd's head office is in Mawson Lakes, South Australia, with premises comprising offices with assembly and test workshops at Techport Australia, Adelaide (Australia's naval industry hub).  Babcock's Western Australian operation provides support services for the Collins Class submarines and Anzac class frigates based at HMAS Stirling on Garden Island.

Babcock