Airspeed to conduct composite material study for Navantia Australia’s SEA 5000

13 December 2017

Navantia Australia today announced a new contract with South Australian composite company Airspeed. Airspeed will conduct design studies into the use of composite materials on Navantia Australia’s ships.

Airspeed is one of Australia’s leading companies in the design and manufacture of composite structures. Under this contract, Airspeed will develop options to introduce composites into Navantia designs.

“Navantia Australia is committed to investing in technically innovative solutions that offer maximum efficiency of materials, cost effectiveness and, most importantly, deliver superior performance for the Royal Australian Navy,” said Navantia Australia Managing Director Donato Martinez.

“Part of building a sovereign national shipbuilding capability is partnering with Australian companies to develop new technologies and materiel applications, such as composites, which can be rapidly incorporated into existing designs. We are nurturing our industry partnerships to face the challenges of new and evolving requirements in the near future”.

“The Future Frigate program is one of the most significant defence projects in Australia’s history,” said Airspeed Managing Director Steve Barlow. “Airspeed has practical, demonstrated and local ‘design and build’ capabilities in composite materials and we’re excited about the prospect of working with Navantia Australia on their proposed F-5000”.