BAE to bid for Australian patrol boat programme

BAE Systems Australia has announced that it will bid for Australia's patrol boat replacement programme. The Request for Tender for the project was released by the Australian government on 5 March.

Australia is seeking 21 patrol vessels to replace its current Pacific class vessels which are reaching the end of their service life. It is a central requirement of the programme that the vessels are sourced from an Australian supplier.

David Allott, CEO, BAE Systems Australia, said that the company would draw on its experience in the Australian ship-building industry to put forward a 'very competitive bid'.

Allott said: 'We have a supply chain that includes around 800 small and medium Australian businesses that will be very keen to contribute to this programme and to retain some of their capabilities as well.

'This capability will be critical should the government decide to maintain a sovereign shipbuilding capability in Australia.'

BAE Systems has most recently delivered the largest ever warship of the Royal Australian Navy fleet, HMAS Canberra. It is currently constructing the second of class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), NUSHIP Adelaide, which will be completed later in 2015.

BAE System is also the prime contractor for the Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade programme on the ANZAC Frigates and is also working on the air warfare destroyer programme as sub-contractor to ASC.