Austal, German Firm in Bid for RAN Contract

23 Agustus 2011

Operation Room of the Australian ANZAC frigate (photo : Saabgroup)

Austal has teamed with German defence communications contractor Rohde & Schwarz to submit a proposal for the upgrade of maritime communications for the Royal Australian Navy's eight ANZAC-class frigates.

The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has issued a request for tender for the SEA 1442 Phase 4 maritime communications modernisation program, with an expected acquisition cost between $300 million to $500 million.

"Austal's ability to submit this response demonstrates not only the company's expanded capabilities in its systems division, but also a continued strengthening of the group's defence credentials, demonstrated most recently by the award of a contract by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for the supply and support of eight 58m Cape Class Patrol Boats," the company said in a statement.

Austal's chief executive Andrew Bellamy said the partnership with Rohde & Schwarz would add further momentum to the growth of the company's capabilities as a prime defence contractor.

(The West)