BAE Systems Australia has secured an $89 million, five-year contract extension with the Commonwealth of Australia to provide in-service periscope support for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) six Collins-class submarines.
The contract will provide ongoing support for the Collins-class submarines’ periscopes through to the 2030s. It will ensure the continuation of maintenance and logistics services, engineering and supply support and program management of 16 periscope systems at BAE Systems’ Mawson Lakes facility in South Australia and HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
“We are delighted to confirm a five-year contract extension, building on our large body of work with the Submarine Enterprise that ensures the continued operation of the periscope systems, which are critical for the Collins Class fleet,” Andrew Gresham , BAE Systems Australia Managing Director, Defence Delivery, said.
Each Collins-class submarine has an attack and search periscope, and these are extensively overhauled and recertified to ensure their materiel readiness and continuing structural integrity. Under its in-service support contract, BAE Systems has developed a local and global supply chain network. The company has manufactured, sustained, and upgraded the periscope systems for the Collins fleet for the life of their service with the RAN. During the build phase alone, BAE Systems, in collaboration with its supply chain, locally manufactured the optics, electronics, cables, and mechanical parts of the periscope to achieve high levels of Australian industry content.
Back in 2022, BAE announced it will provide in-service periscope support for the Collins-class submarines.