Twelve awarded submarine combat system contracts

Twelve contracts have been awarded to Australian industry and academic organisations for studies into novel and emerging advanced technologies in support of Australia’s Attack Class Submarine combat system.

Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA) today announced its fourth cycle of research and development (R&D) contracts awarded under the Future Submarine Program with a combined value of $900,000.

The contracts will deliver white papers on issues such as sensors, UAVs and underwater communications, with selected respondents being further commissioned for Ongoing Capability Research.

The latest round brings the total white paper funding awarded to date to over $2.9 million across 25 Australian industry and research organisations.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Joe North said the company was working hand-in-hand with Australian industry and research to build a regionally superior submarine capability.

North said: “We are committed to partnering with industry and Australian universities to further expand Australia’s technology base and grow Australian sustainment capability in support of the Future Submarine Program. Australian industry is at the very heart of that opportunity.

“Right now, the Attack class submarine combat system is being designed, tested and integrated by Australians, in Australia, for Australia.”

Contracts worth $75,000 each were awarded to:

• elmTEK in SA for research supporting the development of visual sensor prediction tools
• Curtin University in WA for asset maintenance techniques
• University of South Australia to study communications at speed and depth
• AMC Search in Tasmania and Molino Zhang and Associates in Victoria to study visualisation of bioluminescence data
• RMIT in Victoria for above water laser communication
• Flinders University of SA and AMC Search in Tasmania to study novel recovery approaches of submarine-launched UUVs and UAVs
• Acacia Systems in SA for intelligent mission recording
• And Biofouling Solutions in Tasmania, Flinders University and Swinburne University of Technology in Victoria to investigate effective anti-fouling and anti-corrosion treatments to mitigate sonar array degradation

The R&D Program is based on an ongoing 9-month cyclic process funded by the Commonwealth and administered under the LMA contract. Each R&D cycle consists of proposals from industry and academia against a set of published R&D topics.

After a competitive review and assessment of proposal responses, selected responses are awarded a contract to develop a White Paper.
 

Picture: Lockheed Martin Australia

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