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The Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium has launched the inaugural UTIC Challenge, encouraging academic institutions to develop innovative workforce development strategies in the undersea technology sector.
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The challenge is open to participants from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, where teams will develop a position paper in response to one of two categories, including:
- Strengthening the training environment for current/future technologists who develop critical undersea technology.
- Strengthening the training environment for manufacturing professionals who build and support undersea technology applications.
The successful team will be awarded $15,000, which can be allocated towards supporting scholarships or invested in academic programs.
The Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC) is made up of over 300 technology companies across the United States, with an eye towards accelerating maritime and undersea technology innovation and development.
The workforce challenge will support academic collaboration and facilitate a culture of forward thinking among the AUKUS nations, Molly Donohue Magee, UTIC executive director, said.
“UTIC looks forward to collaborating with academic innovators to foster sustainable growth in the undersea technology workforce. AUKUS countries continually cultivate forward thinking, creative maritime defence professionals, and the goal of the UTIC Challenge is to expand upon this tradition,” Donohue Magee outlined.
The news follows the recent $7.5 billion contract between the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems, progressing the SSN-AUKUS into the design phase.
In early October, BAE Systems, together with Rolls-Royce and Babcock, have been awarded £4 billion in contracts for the Detailed Design and Long Leads Phase for the SSN-AUKUS.
According to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, the contracts will progress the SSN-AUKUS program through the design, prototyping, and purchase of main long lead components for the first UK submarines.
The design of the SSN-AUKUS will be used by the Royal Australian Navy.
It is expected to enable construction to begin “in the coming years”, with the first Australian vessels scheduled to commence construction in the early 2040s.
Under plans confirmed by the Commonwealth, Australia and the United Kingdom will both operate SSN-AUKUS submarines which will incorporate technology from all tripartite members.
The global defence contractor detailed that design work started in 2021, with the most recent contract covering development until 2028. Construction of the British boats are scheduled to commence towards the end of the decade.
The first submarine is expected for delivery in the late 2030s.
The SSN-AUKUS will replace the United Kingdom’s Astute Class, which BAE Systems builds at their Barrow-in-Furness site.
