L3Harris awarded $328 million SEA1350 Phase 3 contract  

The department of defence has awarded US prime contractor L3Harris Technologies a contract to deliver new sub-surface tracking ranges for the Royal Australian Navy, valued at up to $328 million. 

In a statement on Wednesday, L3Harris said the SEA1350 Phase 3 Maritime Underwater Tracking Ranges (MUTR) program will provide undersea warfare support including “tracking capability to aid current and future Australian Defence Force assets, warfighting tactics and proficiency”, and would boost sovereign readiness by safeguarding Australia’s maritime approaches and sea lines of communication.  

A request for tenders on the project closed in 2021

The ranges will be built off the coast of Western Australia, and “support Australia’s emphasis on anti-submarine  warfare capability” and enable littoral test and evaluation activities over the next decade.  

The MUTR will capture and relay information from a series of sensors on the location and  movement of assets, and facilitate exercises in deep ocean and littoral waters, involving surface and sub-surface assets simultaneously. 

The ranges are described as integral to Australia being able “to swiftly test and evaluate the readiness of platforms and their weapon systems,” especially to support its shipbuilding program.  

“This is an important  competence now and into the future as we continue to modernize and enhance maritime platforms and  systems,” said Alan Clements, Corporate Vice President and Australia Country Executive, L3Harris. 

Picture: credit Richard Cordell/Defence