The Air Warfare Destroyer team travelled throughout Australia during October, to conduct briefings on how local industry can become involved in the program.
The information seminars gave the AWD program team the opportunity to provide likely industry sub-contractor, industry groups and universities first hand information about opportunities for Australia’s defence industry to participate in the local construction of the three Air Warfare Destroyers.
Over 1500 participants attended the information seminars hosted by the DMO, the AWD program team along with senior representatives of the AWD lead industry participants (ASC AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd, Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd and Gibbs & Cox Inc.).
AWD Program Manager, Mr Warren King, recognises local engagement and information sharing is essential. ‘It is important to remember the local construction of the Air Warfare Destroyers will be one of the most significant shipbuilding projects undertaken in Australia to date. More than 2000 jobs will be created throughout Australia in a broad range of fields including electronics, systems integration and fabrication’, Mr King said.
‘ASC, based in South Australia , is responsible for the construction of the ships. However it is important to note that up to 70 per cent of the module construction will be subcontracted to other shipyards throughout the country. This presents an excellent opportunity for the whole of the Australian defence industry to become involved in the project and opens up important flow-on benefits for key sub-contractors’, said Mr King.
Participants at the Canberra AWD information session |
