BAE Systems Australia to Continue Collins-class Periscopes Sustainment

The Australian Department of Defence has awarded Phoenix International Ltd a contract for a Submarine Rescue Service (SRS) to include the acquisition and support of the SEA1354 Ph 1 Submarine Escape, Rescue, and Abandonment System (SERAS), the Australian subsidiary of Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. said on March 6.
Collins Class Submarines, HMAS Collins, HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Dechaineux and HMAS Sheean in formation while transiting through Cockburn Sound, Western Australia (Credit: Royal Australian Navy)
BAE Systems Australia has welcomed an additional two year, AU$30 million contract extension to ongoing sustainment of the Collins Class periscopes.
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BAE Systems Australia

The original five year contract began in 2015 and encompasses engineering, program management, supply support and highly specialised maintenance services. During this two year extension period, BAE Systems will continue to maintain Search and Attack periscopes and undertake the necessary updates to the periscope systems.

BAE Systems has been maintaining and updating the Collins Class submarine periscopes for more than three decades, developing an important sovereign capability. The company began supporting the Collins Class submarines periscopes in 1988 at the start of the periscope build program. The company has continued to develop this sovereign capability through the provision of maintenance, repair and update services in two states. Periscope work is undertaken by 34 specialist employees working in purpose built facilities at Mawson Lakes South Australia and at HMAS Stirling Naval Base, in Western Australia.

The largest update project undertaken during this time was the transition from analogue to digital periscopes which are now also transitioning into service.

“Now, more than ever, Defence programs will have an important role in Australia’s post-COVID economic recovery. We began supporting the Collins-class submarine periscope systems with an 11-year manufacturing and build program for attack and search periscope systems. Some three decades later, we continue to build and grow our experience in maintaining and updating this critical piece of defence equipment. During this time we have also supported the development of new capabilities in our local supply chain. Defence projects are high value, create and sustain new industrial capabilities, require leading edge technologies and can run over decades which is why they are so important to our nation’s economy.”



BAE Systems Australia Managing Director Defence Delivery Andrew Gresham

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