Copyright Breaking Defense
SYDNEY — Four major defense companies are teaming up to offer to handle the development of a combat system that could be used on the future SSN AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine. BAE Systems, Raytheon Australia, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Thales signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday at the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Expo in Sydney, saying they would work collaboratively to design a tri-national Command System as a “shared solution for Australia and the UK which builds on General Dynamics’ existing AN/BYG-1 system” already in use on American and Australian submarines. Announced here in the Lucky Country, the companies said the effort would protect Australian sovereignty, and that the proposal was subject to negotation with the Australian and British governments. “The Collaborative Team intend to optimise Australian involvement in Combat System design and delivery, while facilitating skills, technology, and knowledge transfer across the AUKUS nations to strengthen Australian industry for the SSN-AUKUS program,” a BAE release said. The development of SSN AUKUS is the ambitious centerpiece of the trilateral AUKUS security arrangement between the US, UK and Australia, which also envisions the transfer of American Virginia-class nuclear powered subs to Canberra and a host of jointly developed cutting edge technology. BAE is the prime contractor on the design of the new sub. BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive Officer Craig Lockhart called today’s MoU another strategic step forward towards developing the “most effective and advanced” combat system for SSN-AUKUS while “simultaneously strengthening Australia’s operational sovereignty and industrial capability.” “By aligning with our industry and trilateral partners, this signing will accelerate and enhance combat system development that is interoperable by design, reaffirming our role as a trusted partner to the Commonwealth of Australia and Royal Australian Navy”, he added. Laura Hooks, vice president and general manager of Maritime and Strategic Systems, at General Dynamics Mission Systems that the companies were “excited to formalize a collaborative path forward to strengthen critical defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.” “The MOU acknowledges that the team successfully delivering submarine combat system capability to the three nations via separate efforts today should be entrusted to sustain and integrate combat systems aboard Virginia and AUKUS submarines in the future, ensuring continuity, confidence, and low-risk delivery,” she said. According to the news release, AN/BYG-1 is an “open-architecture submarine combat control system which integrates tactical control, payload and weapons control and information assurance.” BAE said the system is installed on Australia’s Collins class submarines, as well as the US Navy’s Virginia, Los Angeles, Ohio, Columbia, and Seawolf-class submarines.
