Lockheed Martin Australia has secured a $29.3 million contract to establish the sovereign combat systems integration capability needed to support Australia’s future Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS, Defence Connect reports.
Lockheed Martin Australia will establish a sovereign combat systems integration (CSI) capability for Australia’s future Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarines under a new multi-year $29.3 million contract with the Australian Submarine Agency.
The initiative represents another significant step in the development of Australia’s sovereign nuclear-powered submarine enterprise, with combat systems integration expected to be critical to maintaining and upgrading the sophisticated sensors, weapons, communications and combat management systems fitted to the Virginia Class fleet.
Under the agreement, Lockheed Martin Australia will work alongside the Australian Submarine Agency and its strategic sustainment partner to establish a long-term SSN combat systems integration capability.
Australian Submarine Agency head of Virginia Rear Admiral David Mann, AM RAN said establishing a domestic combat systems integration capability would be critical to supporting Australia’s future submarine fleet, saying, “Combat system integration is critical to the capability and effectiveness of our future submarine fleet.”
The program will encompass the development of infrastructure, engineering skills, training programs, technology-transfer mechanisms and industrial partnerships while establishing the workforce required to update, upgrade, maintain and integrate the combat systems aboard Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.
RADM Mann said: “This partnership will help grow Australia’s skilled workforce, strengthen sovereign industry capability and create new opportunities for Australian businesses. Together, we are building the expertise needed to support and sustain this nationally significant capability for decades to come.”
