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Twelve sub-contracts have been awarded to local firms and academic institutions as part of the prime’s work to support the Future Submarines program.
Lockheed Martin Australia has awarded 12 contracts with a combined value of $900,000 ($75,000 each) to a range of local stakeholders, tapped to deliver white papers on the development of novel and emerging advanced technologies in support of Australia’s future Attack Class submarines combat system.
These latest awards form part of the fourth cycle of research and development (R&D) contracts, funded under the company’s Future Submarine Combat System Integrator Program. This takes the total value of awards funded to $2.9 million across 25 Australian industry and research organisations.
Recipients under Cycle 4 have been selected for the following research topics:
- the development of visual sensor prediction tools (South Australia-based elmTEK);
- asset maintenance techniques (Curtin University);
- communications at speed and depth (University of South Australia);
- visualisation of bioluminescence data (AMC Search and Victoria-based Molino Zhang and Associates);
- above water laser communication (RMIT);
- novel recovery approaches of submarine-launched UUVs and UAVs (Flinders University and AMC Search);
- intelligent mission recording (Acacia Systems); and
- investigating effective anti-fouling and anti-corrosion treatments to mitigate sonar array degradation (Tasmania-based Biofouling Solutions, Flinders University, and Swinburne University of Technology.
The contracts followed a competitive review and assessment of proposal responses. Upon completion of the White Papers, further contracts may be awarded to selected respondents for Ongoing Capability Research.
Lockheed Martin Australia’s R&D Program is based on an ongoing nine-month cyclic process funded by the Commonwealth and administered under the contract.
Joe North, chief executive at Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, congratulated the latest tranche of recipients.
“Lockheed Martin Australia is working hand-in-hand with Australian industry and advancing high-tech research and development initiatives to support Australia’s sovereign defence capability and build a regionally superior submarine capability for our nation and the Indo-Pacific,” he 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.”
[Related: Clearbox Systems joins Lockheed Martin Australia push for JP 9102]
