ASC wins Air Warfare Destroyer contract

The Federal Government has chosen ASC Shipbuilder Pty Ltd as the preferred shipbuilder for Navy’s Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) – one of Australia’s largest and most complex Defence projects worth up to $6 billion.

Senator Hill said the Government made the decision after accepting the unanimous recommendation of the Source Selection Board on the basis that ASC Shipbuilders offered a superior bid in terms of value for money. In addition, the Government has granted first pass approval and provided $455 million towards the next phase of activities including further design work, workforce skilling, initial infrastructure investment and facilities construction. The construction of the Air Warfare Destroyers will be one of the most significant shipbuilding projects undertaken in Australia to date, and will provide enormous opportunities for Australian industry. “More than 1000 direct jobs will be created in South Australia as part of the build contract however, up to 70% of the module construction will be sub-contracted to other shipyards around Australia creating around 1000 additional jobs throughout the country.

Defence is currently evaluating three ship designer proposals from Blohm +Voss, Gibbs &Cox and Navantia (formerly Izar). ASC Shipbuilder is now in a position to assist the Commonwealth to select one of those designers in mid 2005, whose evolved design will be further considered in conjunction with an Australianised version of Spain’s existing F100 ship design. Ministerial Release in full here