The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) first new Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ship, the future HMAS Supply, has been launched in Spain.
The ship has been launched by state-owned shipbuilding company Navantia at its Ferrol facilities as part of a contract signed in May 2016.
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Under the agreement, the company is responsible for construction of two new AORs that will replace the existing RAN vessels, HMAS Success and HMAS Sirius.
Designed based on the Spanish Navy’s replenishment oiler Cantabria, the two new Supply-class AORs will be customised to meet certain standards and requirements of the Australian Navy.
The contract between Navantia and the Australian Government also includes sustainment of the two new vessels for their first five years of operation.
The project will help generate and sustain a total of 1,800 job opportunities in the region until 2020.
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By GlobalDataIn addition, the contract includes participation from other Australian companies such as Raytheon, Saab Australia, Scientific Management Associates (SMA), and Baker and Provan.
While Raytheon serves as the communication system supplier for the vessels, Saab Australia is responsible for the delivery of new combat system, SMA will provide engineering services, with Baker and Provan supplying cranes.
The steel on the two Supply-class AORs was cut by Navantia in June last year and the keel on the future HMAS Supply was laid in the Ferrol shipyard a few months later in November.
While the first ship is slated to be delivered next year, the second AOR will be provided to the Australian Navy in 2020.
