The Projects
Navantia’s presence in Australia began in 2006 to oversee Navantia’s bid for the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) and Air Warfare Destroyer (DDG) contracts. Upon being awarded the contracts to deliver three classes of warship, Navantia Australia was established in 2012 as a subsidiary of Navantia, becoming the first designer locally available throughout the life of the Royal Australian Navy’s ships.
Navantia delivered two Canberra Class LHDs and twelve LHD Landing Craft (LLCs), with the HMAS Canberra III launched in 2011 and the HMAS Adelaide III in 2012. Navantia also delivered three Hobart Class Destroyers with the HMAS Hobart III launched in 2015, the HMAS Brisbane III in 2016, and the HMAS Sydney V in 2018. In 2015 Navantia was awarded the contract to provide the Royal Australian Navy with two Auxiliary Oil Replenishment vessels (AORs), with the HMAS Supply II launched in 2018 and the HMAS Stalwart III in 2019.
Navantia has delivered the Royal Australian Navy with 110,000 tonnes of warship across four classes of vessel. As Design Authority, Navantia Australia now provides through life support sustainment services for each vessel and are the Prime Contractor for the AOR sustainment program. In 2022, Navantia Australia unveiled it’s 100% Australian designed Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium solution, a demonstration of its local engineering and design capability.
The People
As part of the commitment to developing local capability, Navantia Australia’s workforce has now grown to 230 people since its inception in 2012. Over the past three years, Navantia Australia’s Sydney Field Engineering and Corporate branch has grown from just eleven people to over 170. The Melbourne Naval Design and Engineering Centre was established in 2018 with a team of 45 and is expected to reach 70 people by 2023. Navantia Australia opened its corporate headquarters in Canberra in 2016 and its Western Australian sustainment office in Perth in 2020, both of which continue to grow steadily.
The Future
Navantia Australia is expected to continue its current growth, looking towards quadrupling the original size of the Melbourne Naval Design and Engineering Centre by 2027, and creating dedicated programs to developing the careers of the next generation of Australian Maritime Engineers.
Navantia Australia has a commitment to innovation and providing technological leadership to the next generation of Navy ships and aims to deliver a wider and more diverse range of services to the Australian government. As part of such ongoing development, Navantia Australia’s first of its kind Digital Ship Twin Modelling and Simulation technology is at the forefront of Naval innovation.
Navantia Australia and the University of Technology Sydney announced the formation of a Joint Institute for Digital Technologies in 2022 which aims to provide world class and commercially relevant R&D outcomes and IP for use by the Royal Australian Navy. The Joint Institute will also develop the future workforce needed for Australia’s sovereign capability in digital technologies and provide opportunities for collaboration with leading European universities.
In 2020, Navantia transferred the Design Authority for all four classes of delivered vessel to Navantia Australia, representing both the largest transfer of design data in Australia’s history, and its faith in Navantia Australia to deliver best quality design solutions to the Australian Defence Force.
Supported by its incredible people, inspired work, and pioneering vision, Navantia Australia will continue to provide the Royal Australian Navy with the innovative and locally designed engineering solutions for years to come.
About Navantia Australia
Navantia Australia designs, integrates and supports naval maritime platforms and systems for the Royal Australian Navy. We are recognised as a Design Authority by the Commonwealth of Australia for the Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHD) and Landing Craft, Hobart Class Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) and Supply Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) Ships. At Navantia Australia, we are committed to growing our local workforce and links to the Australian Supply Chain to best support the growth of a truly Australian naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry.