Building Australia’s Air Warfare Capability
Media Release
SONAR SUPPLIER FOR AWD PROJECT SELECTED
Date: Monday 11/08/2008
The AWD Alliance has selected Ultra Electronics as the preferred supplier for the Undersea
Warfare Sonar System for the Royal Australian Navy’s three air warfare destroyers (AWDs).
The AWD Alliance is made up of the Defence Materiel Organisation, ASC AWD Shipbuilder
Pty Ltd as the shipbuilder and Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd as the Combat System Systems
Engineer.
The AWD sonar system capability includes an integrated hull mounted sonar and a towed
array with both passive and active capabilities. The purpose of that capability is the detection
and tracking of submarines beyond their lethal range and defence against torpedoes.
The CEO of the AWD Alliance, John Gallacher said the decision followed an exhaustive
selection process.
“In what is a significant milestone for the project and subject to contract negotiations, Ultra
Electronics has been selected to supply this key capability.
“The selection process was based on the principles applied to all AWD procurements
including: value for money, compliance with requirements, ethics and probity, accountability
and transparency, good faith, fair dealing and competition.
”It involved technical and commercial experts from the Alliance participants, the Defence
Materiel Organisation, Raytheon Australia and ASC, supported by representatives of the RAN
and DSTO.”
Independent probity advisors from the Australian Government Solicitor’s office oversaw the
selection process. The ultimate decision was made by the AWD Alliance Board, representing
all the parties to the Alliance contract.
Ultra Electronics has headquarters in the UK and is supported by its worldwide group of
specialist businesses operating in the sonar, battlespace IT, military aircraft equipment,
defence and civil equipment markets.
The company’s products and services are used on aircraft, ships, submarines, armoured
vehicles, surveillance and communications systems around the world.
Mr Gallacher said that vendors involved in the final stages of the selection process indicated a
strong intent to support technology transfer and foster an increased in-country underwater
acoustic capability in the areas of management, manufacture, test and integration. This would
result in significant Australian content contributing jobs and enhancing Australia’s technical
skills base.
Building Australia’s Air Warfare Capability
“The Alliance will now begin negotiations with Ultra Electronics with the aim of signing a
contract in the third quarter of this year,” he said.
The first AWD, HMAS HOBART is scheduled for delivery in 2014.
For further information contact:
James Cannon
AWD Alliance Communications Manager
P: (08) 8165 7368
M: 0417 880 481
E: james.cannon@ausawd.com
NEWS 
