Submarine builder ASC has welcomed more former submarine workers into its ranks as part of national efforts to redeploy those displaced when the federal government abandoned its plan for French company Naval Group to construct Attack class submarines in Adelaide. ASC, which built and maintains the Collins class submarines, has employed another 120 Attack class…
By Peter Roberts The CEO of defence contractor BAE Systems Australia Gabby Costigan has been promoted to Group Managing Director of Business Development for the global company, based in London. Costigan will move to the United Kingdom to take up the high-powered role during Q2 after a hand over period to new CEO of the…
Government procurement decisions should support the nation’s “world-class manufacturers” in delivering new assets and infrastructure, according to Weld Australia, citing recent problems with imported ferries and trams. Commenting on an issue that appears to have gained traction lately, the national welding industry peak body mentioned the recent woes linked to overseas-made public transport in NSW. …
By Peter Roberts It was back in 2014 that Coalition defence minister David Johnston said he would not trust the government-owned submarine builder, the Australian Submarine Corporation, to build a canoe. What is now ASC Pty Ltd just might be on the way to a resurrection, but this time as an addition to BAE Systems…
Australia will need to rely heavily on the experience, skills and technology of the United States and the United Kingdom in building and maintaining nuclear submarines because we do not have a local nuclear industry. We don’t have infrastructure, skills or experience in nuclear power—and none of this can be created overnight.
The Department of Defence is canvassing views on the future management of the Captain Cook graving dock at the Garden Island Defence Precinct in Sydney – a move which could see French-owned Thales dumped as facility manager. Thales has had responsibility for ongoing operations and services of the dock and facilities at Garden Island Naval…
South Australian businesses spent at least $35 million in preparation for the now-abandoned construction of Attack-class submarines. Up to 350 small and medium SA businesses made investments and an estimated 175 SA companies had qualified as suppliers for the submarines according to the Australian Industry & Defence Network. Network head Brent Clark said each company…
Australia’s unilateral cancellation of its contract to purchase French submarines and sign up for the AUKUS security pact constitutes a slap in the face for French diplomacy – variously described as a “stab in the back” and a “betrayal” by French diplomats.
Canberra’s submarine flip flop has left industry and key manufacturers high and dry with questions raised about the extent of Australian content in an imported nuclear submarine, and manufacturers with existing contracts with the French Naval Group facing an uncertain future. The former head of Australian Submarine Corporation, which built the Collins submarines, Hans Ohff…
The US, UK and Australia have struck a new defence alliance, dubbed AUKUS, and will construct a fleet of possibly eight nuclear powered submarines in Adelaide. The submarines will be nuclear powered, but not carry nuclear weapons, according to Prime Minister Morrison, and there will be no civil nuclear industry established locally. It is not…
