The RAN has signed the final stage of the Enterprise Partnering Agreement (EPA) with Saab Australia for the surface fleet's combat management system.
Saab Australia’s Managing Director, Andy Keough said the signing was the culmination of the prior mandate made by Government to nominate Saab as the CMS provider to the RAN's surface fleet.
“The EPA signing demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the RAN and to the creation of sovereign capability, building on the great work we have already completed for the Commonwealth,” Keough said. “It serves as recognition of the strong track record Saab has demonstrated in reliably delivering excellence in CMS capability to the Navy for more than three decades.
“Importantly, it ensures we can continue to evolve the Navy’s capability, create local jobs, and deliver an Australian CMS (AusCMS) that meets the needs of the RAN in an evolving geo-political landscape.
“As a key part of the Government’s enterprise approach to shipbuilding, realisation of the EPA will see Saab’s AusCMS equip up to six classes of warships in the surface fleet, along with developing the Australian Interface for the Hunter and Hobart classes.
“Three decades after a group of Swedish engineers transferred expert command and control capability to Australia, Saab enjoys a long and proud history of developing, delivering and evolving CMS capability for the exacting needs of our RAN, and the protection of Australia."