BAE Systems, together with 20 of its major suppliers to the UK Type 26 Global Combat Ship program, including Rohde and Schwarz, Rolls Royce, David Brown Santasalo, L-3 and Babcock, have been in Canberra meeting with Australian SMEs over the past two days.

As well as the opportunity to meet with BAE Systems and its suppliers, SMEs heard from those companies who have been successful in securing global defence contracts and learn more about what it takes to be part of a global supply chain and the diverse opportunities available in the defence industry.

As the lead contractor for the Type 26 program, BAE Systems is maturing the detailed design for the ships and has already awarded key contracts for long lead items for the first three ships as it prepares to start the manufacturing phase in the UK.

"Securing work on [the Type 26 project] would position any Australian business well for future opportunities."

“Australian SMEs have an extraordinary reputation for being innovative, agile and cost competitive which is why some of the world’s biggest companies are here to engage with and understand the capability that Australian companies can bring to this important program," BAE Systems Australia Director Strategy, Fran Murphy, said.

“Securing work on a project the size and scale of the UK’s Type 26 to be built for the Royal Navy would position any Australian business well for future opportunities," she added.

The Global Combat Ship, the export variant of the Type 26, has been designed for export and is currently being offered to Australia under Sea 5000 and undergoing a CEP alongside fellow shortlisted contenders of an F-100 based design from AWD designer Navantia and Fincantieri with their FREMM.

The UK Government committed to buy eight of the advanced anti-submarine warships in its 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which will in time replace the UK’s Type 23 frigates.