Thales Australia said a masterplan is under development to establish sovereign Maritime Autonomy and SME Collaboration Precinct to support the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Mine Countermeasures and Military Survey Capability SEA1905-1 program, should the company be selected.
The Maritime Autonomy and SME Collaboration Precinct is set to be located on Thales’ Carrington site on the Newcastle foreshore and is expected to contribute over $40 million to the local Hunter economy in the first five years and create over 100 new jobs.
In a media release, Thales said the precinct will realise its long-term commitment to supporting the RAN’s maritime autonomy ambitions in the Hunter region.
For over 30 years, Carrington has been critical in supporting RAN’s Huon class MHC vessels and mine warfare capability. It is the ideal location to support RAN’s maritime autonomy capability as it enables rapid access to both shallow and deep water for trial teams, Thales explained on Wednesday.
The site’s development, supported by Thales Australia’s DISP Level 3 classification, will establish an Australia eyes-only dedicated home for the development and deployment of a sovereign maritime autonomy capability, helping advance and accelerate the RAN’s Mine Countermeasures and Military Survey Capability, SEA1905- 1.
The Carrington site will expand Thales’ world-leading technology and autonomous footprint, adding to the Maritime Autonomy Centres already operating in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
It will also facilitate collaborations across research institutions, SME partners, and key industrial partners to establish future sovereign technology pathways to develop and integrate autonomous vessels in support of Australia’s nuclear deterrence capability.
“Newcastle, and the Hunter region, have been a stalwart of the RAN’s mine countermeasure capability from the time of construction of the first Huon class MHC vessels by ADI in the nineties, through to today, with MHC maintenance and support continued to be carried out at Carrington,” said Troy Stephen, vice president, underwater systems at Thales Australia and New Zealand.
“As Newcastle has evolved into a modern metropolis, the RAN’s Mine Countermeasures and Military Survey Capability will also undergo rapid advancement and a significant technological step-change into autonomy under SEA1905-1. Carrington, the home of the MHC, is the ideal location to develop and deliver the next generation of sovereign mine warfare capability for the RAN, providing the ideal test and evaluation environment whilst generating significant investment in local SMEs and jobs in the region.”
