Austal signs long-delayed shipbuilding pact as industry risks persist
Medium and heavy landing craft – visible in this computer-generated image – are the first platforms to be covered by a new Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with Austal. (Image: Austal)
Austal signs long-delayed Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, but schedule risks and programme delays still loom over Canberra’s naval plans.
Austal has signed a long-delayed Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) with the Australian government to build various vessel classes for Australia’s military, as Canberra aims to create a resilient, sovereign naval ship supply chain.
The agreement, which concluded on 5 August after nearly two years of negotiations, reaffirmed Austal position as key builder of naval vessels in Western Australia despite lingering concerns remaining over further schedule slippages to the programme.
According to the Australian Department of Defence: “The SSA will provide the framework for a steady pipeline of projects to be delivered by Austal, granted it continues to perform and meet
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![HHI poised to start submarine production in Peru pending election outcome]()
HHI poised to start submarine production in Peru pending election outcome
South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries confirmed to Shephard that the company is awaiting the Peruvian government’s decision to allow it to move forward with the production of the HDS-1500 submarine.
-
![US Navy to accelerate the replenishment of SM-6 stocks as demand continues to surge]()
US Navy to accelerate the replenishment of SM-6 stocks as demand continues to surge
The Naval Sea Systems Command exercised a US$335 million modification to a contract with RTX Raytheon to support increasing the production of Standard Missiles 6 by 2030. Shephard spoke with the company president about how the company has scaled to meet demand.
-
![How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls]()
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
