Minister for Defence Senator the Hon David Johnston officially opened Saab’s Advanced Maritime Systems Centre in Adelaide this morning.
The Advanced Maritime Systems Centre brings together all of the resources, skills and expertise which has made Saab Australia a world leader in naval combat systems. The Centre will be an important node within Saab’s global naval systems integration program.
“I am very pleased to officially open the Advanced Maritime Systems Centre. It has been fantastic to see the world-leading technology which Saab is developing right here in Adelaide. For example, the next generation of the Australian-developed 9LV Combat Management System, which has performed exceptionally as part of the Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade on the Navy’s ANZAC-class frigates, will be developed here at this facility,” Minister Johnston said.
The Advanced Maritime Systems Centre will employ over 100 home-grown Australian combat systems engineers, project managers, and software engineers. This is planned to expand to over 200 employees by 2020. The Advanced Maritime System Centre will make a significant contribution in terms of revenue to the South Australian economy over the next decade.
“We’re very proud that Adelaide is now a major contributor to Saab’s global combat systems integration capability,” said Mr Dean Rosenfield, Managing Director Saab Australia.
“In addition to being one of the leading fire control and missile integration systems centres in the world, the Advanced Maritime Systems Centre will also be a development hub for other naval programs, such as the next generation of the Integrated Ship Control Management and Monitoring System (ISCMMS) which Saab has developed for Australia’s Collins-class submarines.”
“I have been very pleased to see the progress which Saab has made in exporting defence technology. Saab Australia offers a fine demonstration of what Australian skills, technology and work ethic can achieve in a competitive international environment and the potential which the Advanced Maritime Systems Centre brings to Saab Australia’s capabilities is very exciting”, Minister Johnston said.
The Advanced Maritime Systems Centre will include Saab Australia’s 9LV Combat Management System Development and Integration program, Submarine Ship Control Systems Laboratory, Training and Simulation Node, Future Combat Systems Laboratory, and Missile and Fire Control Systems Laboratory which is the only facility of its kind in Australia.
Based in Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, the Advanced Maritime Systems Centre is located next to other key Defence research and development hubs, including the Defence Science and Technology Organisation’s offices at Edinburgh and the University of South Australia.