Defense company Lockheed Martin Australia was awarded an AUD$33 million (around $23 million) design contract to support the upgrade of the Aegis combat system on the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fleet of three Hobart-class destroyers.
As disclosed, this contract forms part of a rolling wave of upgrades that are expected to ensure Australia’s sea-based integrated air and missile defense capabilities to protect deployed naval forces.
Under the two-year SEA 4000 Phase 6 Combat System Design Agent (CSD-A) contract, Lockheed Martin Australia will perform most of the program work in Adelaide.
Furthermore, this contract award will create opportunities for Lockheed Martin Australia’s industry partners, such as Relegen, a Sydney-based maritime data specialist that will support configuration updates associated with CSD-A activities.
Specifically, the company will deliver advanced naval combat systems engineering services under the CSD-A contract. This will achieve the landmark integration of the Aegis Combat System Baseline 9 software into the Hobart-class destroyers, according to the firm.
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive, Warren McDonald AO, CSC, welcomed the SEA 4000 Phase 6 CSD-A contract award.
“As the manufacturer of Aegis … Lockheed Martin Australia is proud to deliver and sustain capabilities that play a critical role in the defence of Australia’s interests, as well as those of our allies in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr. McDonald said.
“Lockheed Martin Australia looks forward to collaborating with the Royal Australian Navy, industry partners and the US Navy to ensure the successful upgrade and ongoing sustainment of Australia’s Aegis Combat System.”
Lockheed Martin Australia’s Acting Director of RMS Operations and Integrated Warfare Systems & Sensors Line of Business Lead, Rob Milligan reiterated the company’s commitment to partnerships.
“The Lockheed Martin Australia team will leverage the best of Australia’s industrial capability base to deliver complex Aegis Combat System Baseline 9 upgrades, while supporting a harmonised combat systems enterprise across both Hobart-class Destroyers and future Hunter-class frigates.”
With more than 100 Aegis-equipped ships deployed worldwide, the RAN forms part of a wider family of allied Aegis nations. This ensures greater global interoperability, interchangeability, increased maritime domain awareness and safeguards for collective navies’ missions.