Sensational-Adelaide.com

Naval Group Partners with KBR for Australia’s Future Submarine Facility Design

March 2018 Navy Naval Defense Industry News
Posted On Monday, 19 March 2018 09:26

Naval Group has formally signed a Design Services Subcontract (DSSC) with local engineering company, KBR, to assist with the concept design of the proposed Future Submarine (SEA1000) construction yard at the Osborne Naval Shipbuilding precinct in South Australia.


Artist impression: RAN future submarines. Naval Group image.

The submarine construction yard concept design will include the facilities and infrastructure required to construct a fleet of twelve regionally superior Future Submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.

Through the DSSC, KBR will support Naval Group to deliver the concept design for the Future Submarine yard to the Commonwealth of Australia in July 2018.

“We will be utilising Naval Group’s extensive experience building and maintaining nuclear and conventional submarines for the French, Brazilian, Malaysian, Indian and Chilean navies to ensure that the facility is appropriately equipped to build Australia’s Future Submarine fleet” said Brent Clark, Interim CEO, Naval Group Australia.




A team of KBR and Naval Group Australia engineers will undertake design workshops within Australia and France in February 2018 to inform the concept design and facilitate knowledge transfer. The team will draw on Naval Group’s international experience as a reference point for Australia’s Future Submarine yard.

“KBR is excited to be providing our expertise to Naval Group for this nationally significant project that will deliver a world-class future submarine facility, a significant component of the infrastructure enabler of Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan. Having designed the original Collins submarine facility in South Australia in the 1980’s and more recently the Air Warfare Destroyer shipyard, KBR brings extensive local defence infrastructure engineering and program management experience to this important project” said Greg Conlon, KBR President Asia Pacific.

“We anticipate this contract will employee around 100 South Australians and we look forward to working with Naval Group and the Australian Government to maximise opportunities for local industry,” added Conlon.

Naval Group are committed to the involvement of Australian industry in the Future Submarine Program, recognising that it is of vital importance to the construction and sustainment of the submarine fleet into the future, creating job opportunities across Australia.

Australia's Future Submarine Program:
The Australian Government selected Naval Group (then known as DCNS) as its preferred international partner for the design of 12 Future submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The announcement was made on April 26 2016 by the Australian Prime Minister the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon. Christopher Pyne and The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett. DCNS was competing with the Shortfin Barracuda design against TKMS' Type 216 and Japan's Soryu class designs. Based on the French Navy Barracuda SSN currently in final stage of construction, Australia's future submarine will be will be 97 meters in length and 8.8 meters in diameter.

In September, Lockheed Martin was selected as the preffered combat system integrator. All 12 submarines are expected to be built in Adelaide (South Australia) with technology transfer from Naval Group.

Australian Engineers from Four Companies to Collaborate on Future Frigate 3D Modelling

Adelaide, 14 March 2018



44 highly-skilled Australian engineers and designers have commenced 3D Digital Model courses to develop electricity, structural and outfitting design activities to develop a naval design capability for complex ships. Designers from South Australian companies ASC and Cornell Design, as well as Victorian firm Invenio, will work alongside Navantia Australia employees as part of the program, which will grow Australian Industrial Capability.



“For the future growth of Australian defence industry, it is vital that we grow digital workforce skills, particularly in design, 3D modelling, and development of the digital twin,” said Navantia Australia’s Managing Director, Donato Martinez. “The training we are undertaking is an important part of the transfer of design technology and tools to Australia as part of building local design capability in our role as design manager of the Hobart Class.”



Navantia Australia will be providing a training program through which trainees will be taught to use the FORAN digital design software. FORAN is a fundamental tool used to create the 3D models and the digital twin, or ship zero, used in design and build phases. Through the use of FORAN, seamlessly integrated into our Business Management System, Navantia Australia is able to reduce costs and improve productivity in the design and construction of vessels.



“The program will provide the skills required for the future workforce to work on complex and highly-skilled naval projects,” said Mr Martinez. “We are proud to be working with local companies to upskill the future workforce and help build a thriving advanced manufacturing industry in Australia centred on continuous naval shipbuilding. This training program is a first for Navantia Australia and will involve both formal and workplace training components, representing a significant investment in developing the workforce capability.”



The training program will run over six months.

Spurdo wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:51 pm

Does anyone know the industry plan that BAE have for the Future Frigates program? I remember hearing that Fincantieri were going to establish a facility at Osborne to manufacture thrusters and other marine propulsion equipment that would then be exported to their shipyards in the asian region. I also remember that they were planning on establishing a regional maintenance facility that would do repair & refurbishment work on cruise liners.

rev wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:46 pm

The problem with the Japanese option was that they weren't willing to share all the technologies with our navy. That would hamper our navy's operations and capabilities.
We should have gone and still should go for the American Virginia Class, or an evolved design.

It's interesting that ASC keeps laying experienced workers off, but a few months ago was hiring new apprentices.

Goodsy wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:37 pm

rev wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:46 pm

The problem with the Japanese option was that they weren't willing to share all the technologies with our navy. That would hamper our navy's operations and capabilities.
We should have gone and still should go for the American Virginia Class, or an evolved design.

It's interesting that ASC keeps laying experienced workers off, but a few months ago was hiring new apprentices.

That would also mean either building a nuclear supply chain in Australia, or sending our boats to the US to refuel them.


If we truly wanted a local shipbuilding industry we should be looking at designing our own