Julian Kerr
Suppliers for the five main sub-components for Australia's Future Submarine requirement are expected to be under contract by early 2018, programme head Rear Admiral Greg Sammut disclosed on 16 February.
Speaking at an industry day in Sydney, Rear Adm Sammut listed the top five items as being the main motor, diesel generators, DC switchboard, batteries, and weapon discharge system.
With construction in South Australia expected to start in 2023 with the aim of having the first of the 12 Future Submarines in service "in the early 2030s", work on the infrastructure necessary to ensure a fully qualified workforce was in place would begin in 2018, he said.
Meanwhile, concept design work and sensor selection studies were under way, detailed planning was proceeding on land-based build, test, and integration facilities, and an integrated master schedule was in development, Rear Adm Sammut.
Read the full story at IHS Jane's 360