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Secretary of Defense Linda Reynolds CSC and Secretary of Defense Melissa Price have announced a multi-million dollar contract with Thales Australia to complete a major sonar upgrade for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarine fleet.
Secretary of Defense Linda Reynolds CSC and Secretary of Defense Melissa Price have announced a multi-million dollar contract with Thales Australia to provide major sonar upgrades to the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarine fleet.
The two contracts are worth around $ 23. 7 million will be used to design and implement the mine and obstacle avoidance system and radio frequency interception array for the submarine fleet.
The upgrades will not only improve the performance of the Collins-class fleet, but will also boost the Australian defense industry and support Australian jobs.
Secretary of Defense Linda Reynolds CSC said that both the mine and obstacle avoidance system and the high frequency intercept array are important parts of the Collins sonar system upgrades.
“Our six Collins-class submarines are highly skilled and regionally superior capabilities that are only in the middle of their life. . To ensure this ability maintains its lead, we are upgrading and improving their systems, including through sonar upgrades, ”said Minister Reynolds.
The Heron MOAS is an Australian designed and developed system and the result of more than 20 years of investment in Australia by Thales, the RAN and Defense Science and Technology to develop sonar systems that are tailored to the Navy’s unique operational needs.
The ability to avoid mines and obstacles is critical to maintaining naval operations due to the rapidly evolving mine threat and other navigational hazards in the shallow, poorly mapped waters that prevail throughout the Australian maritime region.
The Herron system offers improved detection with a low false alarm rate at the same time against dangers ranging from small mine-like objects to reefs, shoals and dangerous objects such as displaced shipping containers.
Minister Reynolds added: “The purpose of a mine and obstruction avoidance system is to audibly detect obstacles, including mines that pose a threat to the submarine. The High Frequency Intercept Array detects high frequency sounds including sonar transmissions. ”
« With more than 20 years of investment by Thales and Defense in Australia, these upgrades will complement broader improvements to the Collins-class sonar capability and ensure the fleet’s regional superiority going forward, » said Minister Reynolds.
Defense Industry Secretary Melissa Price said Thales had extensive experience working on the Collins fleet and that other Australian-based companies would be hired during the contracts.
“These contracts cover about 80 percent of the work done by Australian industry. We can expect these contracts to support 30 new jobs at Thales Australia in Rydalmere, NSW, and additional jobs along the supply chain – jobs that will remain during the contracts, ”said Minister Price.
NSW Minister for Employment, Investment, Tourism and West Sydney, Stuart Ayres, said: “Thales Australia has a long history of supporting the Royal Australian Navy with sonars, periscopes and other electronic systems that have been detected with the fleet at sea.
“The sonar systems developed by Thales Australia are an important contribution to the nation’s long-term sovereign sonar capability. ”
Troy Stephen, vice president of subsea systems at Thales Australia, said the Heron MOAS will give our submarines the tools they need to stay safe in a mine-threatened area.
“These advanced systems are developed, integrated and operated sustainably in Australia. Enhancing our world-leading sovereign industrial capabilities in sonar systems. Together, these contracts will support approximately 30 jobs at our location in Rydalmere, West Sydney, and additional jobs at our supply chain partners, ”added Stephen.
The Collins-class submarines were developed from five generations of submarines designed and built by the Swedish Navy.
These submarines are one of the first submarines to be designed entirely by computers. They offer a wide variety of functions. These include a powerful hull shape, highly automated controls, low indiscretion rates, high shock resistance and an efficient weapon handling and discharge system.
The submarine moves silently on electric current supplied by banks with batteries of the new technology. The batteries are charged by three integrated diesel units.
The sophisticated combat system, which gathers its intelligence from its sensors, calculates input, and then starts and directs weapons, is an advance on any system currently available.
Each boat is named after a respected former RAN member, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Based in Fleet Base West in Western Australia, they are a great element of Australia’s defense capability.
Thales Australia is a trusted partner to the Australian Defense Forces and is also present in commercial sectors ranging from air traffic management to ground transportation systems to security systems and services.
Thales Australia directly employs around 3. 800 employees and supports over 1. 700 jobs along its Australian supply chain. In 2019, Thales Australia gave $ 522 million for 1. 362 Australian suppliers, 70 percent of which are SMEs.
Thales Australia has a history of patient investments in building advanced in-country capabilities for manufacturing, critical systems and services. By working closely with local customers, Australian SME suppliers and research institutions, coupled with technology transfer from our global business, Thales can tailor high quality solutions for Australian and export markets and generate $ 1 in revenue. 6 billion exports in the last 10 years.
Collins-class submarine, Royal Australian Navy submarine, Secretary of Defense
World News – AU – Navy Collins-class submarines to see improvements in sonar capability receive
Ref: https://www.defenceconnect.com.au
