OREANDA-NEWS. The partnership, which includes BAE Systems Australia, Saab Australia Pty Ltd, Naval Ship Management Pty Ltd and the Commonwealth of Australia, is valued at over $2 billion over eight years - at the heart of which is the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) requirement for improved capability and availability of the fleet.
BAE Systems involvement in the alliance, known as the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA), will ensure the Company continues to play a leading role in the sustainment of Australia’s surface fleet.

Many of BAE Systems maritime facilities will contribute to the program including asset management in Rockingham (Western Australia), platform engineering and integration support in Williamstown (Victoria), and major refit and upgrade implementation at Henderson (Western Australia). The initial eight year agreement period begins on 1 July 2016.

The WAMA includes a Life of Type Assurance Program (LOTAP) for the frigate fleet which will begin next year with the first ship, HMAS Perth. The scope of work includes improving the ship’s engines, propulsion, lighting, heating, cooling, communications systems. The work will begin in April 2017 at Henderson. The first $107m phase of this program has been awarded for the design and long-lead procurement to commence.

BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive Glynn Phillips said: “This new alliance is a demonstration of how the industry can work together to deliver the support the Royal Australian Navy requires. It ensures that the ANZAC class ships will be supported for the remainder of their naval service, allowing the capability to be in place until they are replaced by the Future Frigate fleet.

“Our work on this program will allow BAE Systems to retain important skills in engineering and program management across the country that will contribute to our proposed work on the Future Frigates program for which we have been down selected.

“Our involvement in this alliance reflects the outstanding work that we have been doing to date in the sustainment of the ANZAC class fleet, and the upgrade of these frigates with a world leading Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) capability at our Henderson shipyard.”