The company’s contract in supplying and now overhauling this vital submarine capability every seven years is based around BAE Systems’ purpose-built Mawson Lakes facility and HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.

BAE Systems Australia managing director Andrew Gresham said the contract extension confirmed continuing maintenance and logistics services, engineering, supply support and program management.

As part of its in-service support contract, BAE Systems has developed a local and global supply chain network, he said, as it delivers sovereign capability to support the nation’s submarines.

The company has overseen manufacture, sustainment and upgrading of the periscope systems for the Collins fleet for the life of their service to the RAN.

“BAE Systems is a long-term sovereign capability partner with a 30-year pedigree in the manufacture and build, sustainment and upgrade of Collins Class submarine periscope systems for the Royal Australian Navy,” Gresham said.

it is welcome news for the company that is also building the nation’s nine submarine-hunting Hunter-class frigates at Osborne in Adelaide.

Adelaide-based large-scale 3D printing company AML3D announced that it now has a purchase contract with BAE Systems Australia to explore the feasibility and prototyping components in the design and build of the nine Hunter Class frigates.

While the purchase contract is not financially significant, AML3D said it expanded its partnership to meet BAE Systems Australia’s existing and future Additive Manufacturing requirements for the Hunter Class Frigate Program.

The prototyped components intend to offer higher strength properties while providing an alternative to traditionally cast items for future builds.

AML3D’s WAM^® technology is a form of wire-based Directed Energy Deposition (DED), sometimes known as Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). The company provides certified high-strength components to the marine industry and is accredited by Lloyd’s Register and the DNV.

The signing of a purchase contract for prototype Hunter class components follows a commercial validation testing programme in October 2020.

AML3D said this validation testing demonstrated its DED technology as a cost-effective manufacturing solution with the potential to minimise lead times and meet BAE Systems Australia’s internal standards for additively manufactured components.

Additionally, the validation test results are said to have illustrated how wire-based DED technology can support the continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment of sovereign capability as laid out in the Australian Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan.

“Developing our commercial relationships across the marine and defence sectors are key to AML3D’s strategic growth plan,” AML3D’s chief executive officer Ryan Millar said.

“We had great confidence that WAM would satisfy BAE Systems Australia’s testing protocols and are pleased to have successfully moved this project out of the validation testing phase.”

“Providing prototype components that will support BAE Systems Australia’s contract with the Royal Australian Navy to build the Hunter class frigates is another step in building a commercial relationship of great significance.”