Schneider Electric has entered into an agreement with ASC to support Collins class submarine sustainment and plan for the Future Submarine program.
Schneider Electric is an established supplier to ASC of major power switching and circuit breaker equipment for the six Collins class submarines.
According to ASC Chief Executive Officer Stuart Whiley, the collaboration will improve obsolescence management of key electrical equipment for the Collins class, to remain in service into the 2030s, as well as explore opportunities for innovation and growth in support of future programs.
As part of the collaboration, graduate engineers from Schneider Electric and ASC will spend time working in each company’s submarine-related operations.
Schneider Electric Graduate Engineer Nicole Tang recently started at ASC’s deep maintenance operations at the Osborne Naval Shipyard precinct in Adelaide.
“Being able to work on the Collins class submarine provides unparalleled opportunities to observe and understand how Schneider Electric’s products are integrated and how they’re solving real-world problems,” Tang said. “There’s also the challenge of working on Australia’s most complex defence asset.”
In a statement, ASC and Schneider Electric said that the companies see the exchange of graduates as a significant step to growing Australia’s submarine engineering capability through the development of professional networks and shared experience.
“It is through collaborations like this one, with Schneider Electric, that ASC will grow Australian industry’s capacity to meet our sovereign submarine requirements in coming decades, across both Collins Class and Future Submarines,” Whiley said.
The companies also said the collaboration is aimed at achieving a future strategic support agreement.