Lockheed Martin Canada has signed a formal contract with the New Zealand government for ship installation and trials to complete the upgrade and modernisation of the Royal New Zealand Navy's two ANZAC class frigates HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana.
Lockheed Martin Canada is responsible for designing and supplying the upgraded combat system for each ANZAC Class Frigate, including a new combat management system – based on Lockheed Martin Canada's Combat Management System 330 – along with the supply and integration of various sensors, a missile system and a Combat Systems Trainer.
Lockheed Martin Canada has entered into a subcontractual agreement with Seaspan Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd in Victoria, BC, to install the new systems on the ship platforms.
Acting VP and GM Lockheed Martin Canada RMS Gary Fudge said the NZ ANZAC Frigate Systems Upgrade marked Lockheed's official entrance onto the international market as a combat systems integrator in 2014.
"Our partnership with Canadian shipyards on the Halifax Class Modernisation program and the confidence that Canada placed in those shipyards on the National Shipbuilding Strategy program led directly to our ability to contract the ANZAC refit work to Seaspan," stated Fudge.
Lockheed Martin Canada is the Combat Systems Integrator (CSI) for four major active programs across three countries, along with the Chilean Navy's Type 23 modernisation, Canada's Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship, and the Halifax Class Modernisation program, the lead program that saw the initial development of the CMS 330 .
These upgrades will provide the ships with a greater degree of survivability through a faster decision-making process and a more appropriate response to a variety of threats.
HMNZS Te Kaha arrived in Canada last week and HMNZS Te Mana is scheduled to arrive in 2019. Under Lockheed Martin Canada supervision and direction, Seaspan Shipyards will refit and install the new systems with an expected completion date of 2020 for the entire contract.
In March last year a combat system trainer was installed at the RNZN base at Devonport to prepare the frigate crews for the new system.