The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has opened a tender for a capability life cycle manager (CLCM) of the Royal Australian Navy ‘s (RAN’s) three Hobart-class destroyers.
The tender is in support of the Australian DoD’s new approach in sustaining navy ships.
It marks a step forward in the fulfilment of the Future Maritime Sustainment Model under Plan Galileo.
The destroyers will be the first major RAN platform to be appointed a CLCM.
It follows the appointment of Raytheon as the CLCM for the new Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) in December last year.
Australia Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said: “This model builds on the success of our continuous naval shipbuilding initiative and has been designed to ensure we can continue to deliver a complex naval capability at sea that is reliable and fit-for-purpose.
“It includes performing asset management for the capability and supporting the upgrade of their combat management system.
“Once again the Morrison government is delivering enormous opportunities for Australia’s defence industry, particularly in South Australia.”
The Australian Government revealed plans to invest nearly $5.1bn for the upgrades at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.
The investment is part of a major expansion of Australia’s naval capabilities and is expected to create around 300 local jobs.
An industry briefing will be conducted about the Hobart-class destroyer CLCM next month.
The three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers are being built by AWD Alliance for RAN under the air warfare destroyer programme, known as SEA 4000.
In 2019, third Hobart-class air warfare destroyer, NUSHIP Sydney, was assigned for a significant capability upgrade at the Osborne naval shipyard.
