The shipbuilding firm has invited local industry to bid for the delivery of $100 million in equipment used at the new Attack Class shipyard in Adelaide.
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Naval Group Australia has opened expressions of interest for the purchase of approximately 1,000 items from local suppliers, used at the Osborne Shipyard in Adelaide upon completion of a submarine hull qualification section in 2023.
Released via Naval Group’s Industry Capability Network portal (which includes over 2,000 businesses), the purchase plan, valued at $100 million, includes both ready-made and custom-made tools and equipment.
Among the items to be purchased by Naval Group are:
- hand and machine tools;
- transport trollies;
- office equipment;
- welding machines;
- scaffolding;
- whiteboards;
- tanks, sumps and pumps;
- personal protective equipment;
- workshop benches, and
- a plasma cutter.
This latest proposal is in addition to the $900 million local manufacturing package, which seeks tier-one Australian firms to deliver over 20 components used in the construction of the 12 Attack Class submarines.
Naval Group Australia CEO John Davis said the design and construction project would support local industry for the next 50 years.
“Australia’s Future Submarine Program is on the cusp of an exciting new phase, as a new and modern new shipyard rises from the ground and preparations for construction begin,” he said.
“The opportunity for Australian suppliers to get involved in this latest $100 million investment in tools and equipment for the shipyard is significant, as we continue growing the local supply chain.
“We will be targeting this purchase to small and medium Australian businesses, and aiming to build long-term relationships that will continue throughout this multi-decade submarine program.”
Naval Group global CEO Pierre Eric Pommellet said the firm is committed to achieving local content requirements stipulated in the SEA 1000 contract.
“Ensuring that at least 60 per cent of the Attack Class contract value is spent locally will create hundreds of Australian jobs, for the long term, in new supply chains around the country,” he said.
“The local teams are working hard to build new supply chains, create sovereign capabilities and design a new and advanced submarine, which will be built for Australia’s unique conditions.”
Naval Group is expected to work alongside Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI), which is overseeing the construction of the Attack Class shipyard.
Construction of the shipyard commenced at Osborne north in December 2018, and has since progressed to the development of the Platform Land-Based Test Facility, scheduled for handover to Naval Group next year.
The Platform Land-Based Test Facility will be used to verify and refine the performance of critical Attack Class submarine propulsion systems, testing the submarine’s main propulsion train in a controlled environment before inclusion into the overall platform.
Naval Group is scheduled to deliver the first Attack Class submarine in 2036, with final operational capability expected in 2054.
[Related: Naval Group expands local upskilling program]