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Australia’s submarine company, ASC, is delivering specialist submarine design services to the Saab Group, after the completion of a successful pilot program in Adelaide, South Australia.
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ASC is delivering engineering design services to Saab in support of the A26 submarine, being designed and built for the Royal Swedish Navy by Saab Kockums.
ASC chief executive Stuart Whiley said the engagement leveraged ASC’s expertise as the design authority, builder and sustainer for the Collins Class submarine fleet, Australia’s operational submarine capability.
"The continuation of the Saab engagement allows our highly skilled designers to leverage their experience and know-how on a new platform, offering stimulating and challenging work in the years to come," Whiley explained.
Whiley added, "The Collins Class was designed by Saab Kockums of Sweden in the 1980s-1990s, and shares a pedigree with Sweden’s respected, conventionally powered submarines, also designed by Saab Kockums."
Sweden's upgraded version of Uppland and her sister ship Gotland are paving the way for the most modern AIP submarine under production today: the Blekinge Class (A26). More than 20 new systems on-board the new Gotland Class will be implemented in the state-of-the-art A26, which contributes to their de-risking for the A26.
This also gives great training opportunities for the crew when they in the future deploy onboard the A26.
"We are delighted to offer this varied and challenging work to our people and again be engaged with Saab, this time supporting the Swedish A26 project," Whiley said.
Managing director of Saab Australia, Andy Keough, said, "ASC's continuing work on the A26 submarine project underscores Saab's dedication to Australia and Australian industry's capacity to support our worldwide supply chain."
The A26 submarines will serve as successors to Gotland Class subs for the Swedish Navy, with deliveries to begin in 2022, and continue through to 2024.
A26's capabilities include maritime security, covert mine countermeasure, intelligence and reconnaissance, anti-submarine/surface warfare, mine-laying and other operations.
The A26 vessels have two distinct variants designed to conduct a variety of missions:
- Pelagic: Adapted for long-range missions in narrow or littoral environments. Highly manoeuvrable with high speed and a large weapon load, Pelagic submarines have a lower acquisition price and operating cost and can also be offered with the Stirling AIP technology for superior submerged endurance.
- Oceanic/ER: Submarines in the Oceanic Extended Range (ER) segment are the largest in the series, designed for much longer missions, greater crew size and increased weapon payload capability. Oceanic ER submarines enable long-distance operations, suitable for any navy using forward deployment of their submarines on extended missions.
ASC serves Australia's naval defence capabilities, with more than 2,500 employees across three facilities in South Australia and Western Australia. ASC has evolved into Australia's largest specialised defence shipbuilding organisation, with naval design and engineering resources unparalleled within Australia's defence industry.
Initially established in 1985, ASC was subsequently chosen in 1987 as the prime contractor for the design, manufacture and delivery of the Royal Australian Navy's fleet of Collins Class submarines.
In 2005, ASC was awarded the role of shipbuilder for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer project. These are the most advanced and complex warships ever built in Australia and are being constructed at ASC's state-of-the art shipbuilding facility, ASC South, located at Osborne, SA.
