Feature 5 | Royal austRalian navy
Combat System Augmentation initiative. and enhancements to the electronic A range of preliminary study activities
A raft of other improvements are warfare capability; and Phase 6 will have already been commissioned ahead of a
planned under Project SEA 1439: Phase upgrade the existing sonar system concept design phase in 2010-11. These are
3.11 is intended to replace the existing by migrating sonar processing to a investigating areas such as the capability of
integrated ship control monitoring and COTS-based open architecture. the indigenous design base, the capability
management system for the Collins class; Looking long term, the SEA 1000 Future of the international submarine industry,
Phase 5B.2 will improve the electronic Submarine project has been established to market testing of key technologies (such as
warfare and external communications acquire a next-generation, high-capability propulsion, payload handling and storage,
systems fitted to the class through the conventional submarine expected to and weapons).
acquisition of a high data rate satellite incorporate a mix of Australian, European Tenix Defence, now BAE Systems
communications capability, replacement and US technology. A class of 12 boats is Australia, teamed with Navantia, was in
of the existing communications centre planned, entering service from 2025. June 2007 selected to design and build
Future Submarine Project Study
Earlier this year, John Faulkner, australia’s Minister
for Defence and Greg Combet, Minister for Defence
Personnel, Materiel and science, announced that
Defence will call for Requests for tender (Rft) to
complete a Domestic Design study for the Future
submarine Project, sEa 1000.
“the procurement of australia’s future submarine will
be australia’s largest ever single defence project and will
form a critical part of the nation’s future defence force,”
said senator Faulkner.
“Investigations by the Future Submarine Project Office
to date have covered a number of diverse areas aimed
at developing an understanding of the capability of the
international submarine industry. this Rft adds to these
the Rft for the Future submarine Project study will help enable
preliminary investigations by examining australia’s design
the RAN to define the requirement for the successor to the
capabilities, and forms part of a programme of studies
Collins class.
being undertaken to support the planning of australia’s
future submarines as outlined in the Defence White Paper,” said senator Faulkner.
“the Rft will add to current information collected to help shape the approach to the design of the next-generation
submarine. We are undertaking a number of studies to identify and explore all the options to ensure we have the
appropriate design capability to support our submarines throughout their life. the information we collect through this
process will help to develop strategic options for the Government’s consideration,” said Combet. “this Government
is committed to carefully planning for australia’s next generation of submarines. this is clear through the programme
of studies and information we are gathering. this request for tender recognises the skills that our australian domestic
defence industry has in the design and development of submarine technologies and systems,” Combet said.
at the end of 2008, a new underwater test facility was unveiled at the Defence science and technology organisation
(Dsto) in Melbourne by the Honourable Warren snowdon MP, Minister for Defence science and Personnel. the new
facility will assist research into australia’s next generation of submarines.
“the Government has invested a$1 million in this new facility to ensure our scientists are able to bring their expertise
to the development of the new class of australian submarines,” said snowdon. “submarines offer a unique and powerful
strategic impact to the maritime domain, particularly for a nation so heavily reliant upon seagoing trade and security.
a key defence commitment for this Government is carefully planning for our next generation of submarine, and that
means getting the science right.”
the new water tank will primarily be used for experiments to control underwater noise. noise radiation problems can
be tested and evaluated in the tank before remediation measures are implemented with actual submarines. the new
facility also allows unmanned underwater vehicles (uuvs) to be tested in the laboratory.
a winged autonomous glider was released into the water tank to demonstrate the collection of data in the maritime
environment.
30 Warship Technology October 2009
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