Thales Australia wins $1.3 billion navy maintenance contract
The Hobart-class guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney. (Photo: Australian DoD/RAN)
A contract to provide maintenance and support for Australia’s naval fleet in Sydney will create more than 900 jobs and boost Australia's sovereign naval shipbuilding industrial capability.
The Australian government has awarded a A$2 billion (US$1.3 billion) seven-year contract to maintain and sustain the country’s naval fleet in Sydney to Thales Australia.
Thales Australia was appointed Regional Maintenance Provider for the new Regional Maintenance Centre East at Australian Department of Defence’s (DoD’s) Garden Island Precinct.
A new maintenance centre will be constructed which will support the maintenance of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) HMAS Choules landing ship dock, Hobart-class guided missile destroyers and Canberra-class landing helicopter docks.
Related Articles
Thales, Naval Group sign through-life support deal for France's FREMM frigates
Saab teams up with ThayerMahan to strengthen Australia’s undersea capabilities
Australia orders Mk 45 naval guns for Hunter-class frigates
‘It will ensure Australia has the sovereign industrial base to maintain and sustain Australia’s naval fleet into the future,’ a government statement noted.
The government has claimed the deal would support more than 900 jobs, of which 120 would be direct defence industry roles, with 800 more jobs within the broader industrial ship repair workforce.
Pat Conroy MP, minister for defence industry for Australia, remarked: ‘Growing our sovereign naval shipbuilding industrial capability is not just good for jobs, it’s imperative for our national security.’
The deal has also included incentives for local and regional businesses to compete for work.
‘I’m focused on making it easier for local industry to partner with the DoD and this partnership with Thales Australia will help to do that,’ Conroy added.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration]()
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
![HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment]()
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
![How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China]()
How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
-
![UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet]()
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
-
![US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks]()
US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks
US military authorities claim to have sunk 20 Iranian vessels and destroyed Tehran’s Air Force, with the Pentagon making plans to send additional assets to the region.
-
![Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus]()
Greece’s newly commissioned FDI frigate deployed to Cyprus
The recent naval modernisation efforts by the Hellenic Navy have been bolstered by the acquisition of advanced Naval Group frigates, the first of which was delivered in December 2025 and is now playing a crucial role in the latest Middle East conflict.
