NSM JV wins £115m contract for RAN’s Anzac-class frigates

A joint venture (JV) team comprising UK defence contractor Babcock and Australia-based UGL has secured a new deal to deliver maintenance support services for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Anzac-class frigates.

The contract will continue for five years and covers the RAN’s eight Anzac-class vessels. It is valued at approximately £115m.

The arrangement will see the JV, known as 50 / 50 Naval Ship Management (NSM), provide critical engineering services to sustain the Australian Navy frigates.

Work under the deal is slated to commence this month and will be carried out as part of the long-term Australian warship asset management agreement (WAMA).

Babcock International Group chief executive officer Archie Bethel said: “I am delighted that we have successfully achieved the next stage of the contract to look after Australia’s Anzac fleet.

“Babcock has a long and successful history of working with the Australian Navy and we look forward to continuing that relationship over the next 14 years.”

NSM will carry out the planning, scheduling, management and execution of preventative and corrective maintenance for the Anzac-class vessels and its system support facilities on the East and West Coast of Australia under the project.

The JV will also be responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the vessels, including the provision of an integrated schedule and elements of logistics supply.

The WAMA programme is a strategic partnership between NSM, BAE Systems, SAAB and the Commonwealth of Australia.

It has been designed to ensure that the RAN’s Anzac-class ships continue to remain in service until at least 2031.