Media Release

DPAO 161/99 Monday, May 31, 1999

Defence to Place Contracts Worth More Than $1 Billion with Australian Industry for Frigate Upgrade and New Vehicles

In Canberra tomorrow (Tue 1/6), the Department of Defence will sign two contracts worth more than $1 billion for upgrade of the Navy's guided missile frigates (FFGs) and for new infantry mobility vehicles for the Army.

Defence executives will put pen to paper in the new R1 Australian Defence Force Headquarters shortly after 11am tomorrow authorising:

  • Upgrade of defence, reliability and living conditions on board the six FFGs in RAN service at a cost of more than $800m; and

  • The production of more than 360 Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles at a cost of more than $180m.

Although the contracts require some overseas-sourced components, both feature high levels of Australian Industry Involvement.

In each case, ADI Limited has been named as the preferred tenderer.

 

INVITATION TO NEWS EDITORS: CHIEFS-OF-STAFF: YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE SIGNINGS IN THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM OF BUILDING R1 (TO THE LEFT REAR OF BLAMEY SQUARE). THEY SHOULD AIM TO ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 1045.

I EXPECT TO HAVE BETACAM SP VIDEO CLIPS (COURTESY NAVY VIDEO) OF GUIDED MISSILE FRIGATES (FFGS) FOR TELEVISION REPRESENTATIVES WHO ATTEND AND A TWO METRE MODEL OF AN FFG WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR PHOTOS.

TWO BUSHMASTER VEHICLES WILL BE ON STATIC DISPLAY NEAR THE BUILDING WHERE THE SIGNING IS TO TAKE PLACE AND WILL PROCEED FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL DOWN ANZAC PARADE TO THE LAKE AFTER THE SIGNINGS.

Further information:
Tony Underwood 0419 213 885

Issued by the Defence Public Affairs Organisation, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600

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