ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is naming its effort to secure the Future Submarine program ‘Endeavour’ after Captain James Cook’s ship, as the company promotes German industrial expertise at Pacific 2015.
“We are committed to deliver a regionally superior submarine for Australia under Project Endeavour,” the company’s Australian chairman Dr John White says.
“We will offer an advanced submarine design that is tailored to Australia’s specific submarine requirements and designed for reliable, cost-effective sustainment.”
TKMS is putting forward a version of the HDW Type 216 design for SEA 1000 intended specifically to meet Australian requirements.
“If an all-Australian build is the preferred option, we are well prepared for it,” Dr White says, pointing out that with TKMS as the preferred international partner for the Future Submarine program, work would not be focused solely on South Australia.
“The construction and assembly work can be carried out at several locations around Australia using proven modular construction. The materials and components supply will engage thousands of Australian companies and many more thousands of skilled people from all states.”
TKMS talked to more than 400 potential suppliers at recent industry events around Australia.
Meanwhile, during his visit to Australia German navy chief Vice Admiral Andreas Krause has assessed Australian manufacturing capabilities, starting his trip in Adelaide where he visited ASC.
“What I saw there was very capable dockyards, very capable people. That made me very positive in my assessment,” Vice Admiral Krause told Australian Defence Business Review’s Show Daily at Pacific 2015 on Tuesday.
While in Australia, Admiral Krause has been exchanging views on a strategic level with his Australian counterpart Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, as well as visiting Pacific 2015 for talks with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
For the German navy chief, strategic considerations are a critical part of the Future Submarine program’s Competitive Evaluation Process: “I think that for Germany, it is very important to develop a strategic partnership with Australia.
“Australia is sitting in a part of the world where many nations are strategically deeply interested, and therefore it is more than obvious that this strategic partnership should develop.”