Lockheed Martin to Open Submarine Combat System Laboratory

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Lockheed Martin Australia will open a submarine combat system laboratory in Mawson Lakes in November to support the company’s pursuit of the Royal Australian Navy's Future Submarine project SEA 1000 Phase 1. Construction began at Mawson Lakes on July 27, 2015 and is expected to open in November. An expanded Phase 2 with a secure area is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2016.

“A submarine’s combat system is essentially the eyes, ears and sword of the boat,” said Raydon Gates, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Australia & New Zealand. “A submarine’s tactical effectiveness depends on a fully integrated suite of the best technologies from Australia and around the world. The ability to seamlessly integrate the best sensors, sonar, radar, navigation, imagery systems and weapons will give Australia’s future submarine the tactical advantage it needs– and that is what Lockheed Martin Australia will deliver.”

The laboratory includes a reconfigurable submarine command centre to test and validate the Royal Australian Navy’s concept of operations in a simulated operational environment. The laboratory will feature advanced computer processing with reconfigurable hardware, and collaboration space dedicated to bringing known and proven technologies to the next generation of Australian submarines.

Establishing a submarine combat system laboratory in parallel with early stages of submarine design leverages a key lesson learned from the success of the U.S. Navy’s Virginia class submarine program.  “The philosophy we’ve adapted as the U.S. Navy’s submarine combat system integrator is one of an open business model based on the premise that no one company has all the answers,” says Raydon Gates.  The laboratory will leverage Lockheed Martin’s presence and Australian industry cooperation.

“The laboratory is all about risk reduction. It gives us the flexibility to work with the SEA 1000 hull designers and combat subsystem providers in every step of the process,” said Gates. “It’s a proven methodology that also reduces development costs and ensures continued interoperability with an affordable, disciplined plan for sustainment.”

Lockheed Martin will collaborate with Saab Australia and Thales Australia & New Zealand in the submarine combat system architecture laboratory initiative.  Collectively, Lockheed Martin, Saab and Thales have a very strong record and well-respected maritime domain knowledge and expertise.

Adam Waldie, Underwater Systems Business Development Manager, Thales Australia said “Thales has built world leading Submarine and Anti Submarine Sonar capability tailored for Australian requirement over several decades. This includes in country design, manufacture, integration and sustainment. Thales also remains focused on supporting Australia’s submarine combat system integrators and providers alike with our skills and expertise through initiatives such as the laboratory.”

Saab Australia managing director Dean Rosenfield highlighted the tremendous potential of the collaboration to build the submarine combat system laboratory.  “We have a highly talented engineering team and their work in naval combat systems and system integration is well regarded,” he said.  We are proud to bring our expertise to the laboratory initiative that will ultimately benefit Australia’s future submarine program.

The laboratory capitalises on Lockheed Martin’s heritage of more than 40 years of demonstrated submarine combat systems integration methodology on submarines for seven nations. Lockheed Martin is a full life cycle combat system integrator with expertise in all phases of design, test, integration, certification, delivery and sustainment.

About Lockheed Martin Australia

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,000 people in Australia and New Zealand working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors.

About THALES

Thales in Australia is part of a leading international electronics and systems group serving the defence, aerospace and space, security, and transport markets in Australia and throughout the world.  The company's wide-ranging capabilities across the aerospace, defence, transport and security sectors are recognised by customers who not only require superior equipment, but the systems integration, prime contracting and through life support expertise that boost their competitive edge.

About Saab Australia

With headquarters in Adelaide, Saab Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saab AB, providing Defence, Security and Traffic Management solutions. With over 300 experienced staff across Australia and New Zealand, and a reputation for achieving complex systems integration projects on time, Saab Australia has proven its capabilities over more than 26 years.