WA and SA Benefit From Combats Systems Expansion

The DTC has repeatedly called for a unified national approach to securing work for Australian defence business, rather than a fragmented and sometimes overly competitive state-by-state approach.

It has welcomed the news that the expansion of Defence’s ‘next generation’ combat management system has created more than 100 local jobs and new opportunities for Australian businesses across two states – SA and WA.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the expanded combat management system will now include Maritime Mine Counter Measures and Military Survey Vessels. As such it would drive the next phase of growth and investment by Saab Australia, the nation’s sovereign Combat Management System provider.

“This project will create Australian jobs for engineers and project managers, developing further capability within the industrial supply chain and supporting a major, multimillion-dollarexpansion of Saab’s South Australian andWest Australian facilities,” she said.

“Saab’s investment and recruitment since signingtheir Enterprise Partnering Agreement with Defencein February 2020 is clear evidence that the MorrisonGovernment’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan is creating jobsand delivering sovereign capability.

“In the first 12 months of the EPA, Saab has beenawarded almost $20 million and welcomed 108 newstaff across Australia.”

Saab Australia is a key partner in the delivery ofAustralia’s sovereign shipbuilding capability, with almost600 highly skilled engineers, project managers andspecialists delivering defence and security solutions.

Today’s announcement means Saab’s CMS will beequipped on six of the RAN’s classes of vessels: Anzac,Canberra, Supply, Arafura, Mine Countermeasures andMilitary Survey Vessels.

For more information regarding opportunitiesassociated with SEA 1905 Phase 1, visit AusTenderat www.tenders.gov.au.

The crew of HMAS Supply line the upper decks during her commissioning ceremony at Fleet Base East in Sydney, New South Wales.