THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
085/2009
UPDATE ON AIR WARFARE DESTROYER PROJECT
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science,
announced today that Australia’s $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD)
project was progressing well and would commence hull construction in the
next few months.
During a visit to Adelaide to inspect the progress of the project, Mr Combet
said that work had now begun on fabricating what is known as a ‘pilot block’ at
ASC’s shipyard in Adelaide. This followed the successful testing of the steel
plate cutting capabilities of the South Australian company Ferrocut.
The AWDs are being constructed using the block method, with 30 per cent of
the blocks being made at ASC in Adelaide and 70 per cent at BAE Systems in
Victoria and at Forgacs in NSW.
Similar fabrication of blocks will commence in November at BAE’s facilities in
Williamstown, Victoria and December at the Forgac’s facilities in Newcastle,
NSW.
“Successful completion of pilot blocks is a key step in the move to full-scale
production of the three AWDs and demonstrates that the project is
successfully moving from the design to construction phase,” Mr Combet said.
Mr Combet also said today Australian companies were continuing to
demonstrate their ability to win work on the AWD project.
The AWD Alliance has recently signed six contracts worth approximately $18
million with Australian companies for the supply of a wide range of services
and equipment for the three Air Warfare Destroyers.
“Scientific Management Associates has won a contract initially worth $13
million to supply a range of integrated logistic support services to the project.
This is crucial work which will ensure the highly sophisticated AWDs are well
supported to meet the Navy’s operational requirements.”
Mr Combet said five South Australian companies had also recently won work
on the AWD project.
“Ottoway Engineering, based in Adelaide, has won a contract potentially worth
up to $3.7 million and United Fasteners, Priority Engineering Services,
Century Products and Whyalla Fabrications have also won work on the AWD
project to provide a range of materials and services,” he said.
The AWD Alliance has also signed a $12 million contract with Eurotorp for the
provision of the torpedo launch system for the three ships.
The AWD Alliance is made up of the DMO, ASC as the shipbuilder and
Raytheon Australia as the Combat System Systems Engineer. The first ship is
scheduled for delivery in 2014.
Media Contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
(02) 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Jim Cannon (AWD Alliance)
(08) 8165 7368 or 0417 880 481
Defence Public Affairs:
(02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
