“The continuous naval shipbuilding program is a national endeavour,” Mr King said. “Navantia Australia is continuing to grow and develop our sovereign capability, which means drawing on the best engineers and naval architects around the country. The Melbourne Naval Design and Engineering Centre will work in partnership with our Operations and Design Centre in Adelaide to ensure the success of Australia’s sovereign naval shipbuilding capability and our development into a nation with a competitive export capability.”
The Design and Engineering Centre, led by Operations Manager Jamie Gibbs, is focussed on developing Australia’s future frigate capability and supporting the Hobart Class destroyers. Following the designation of Navantia Australia as class manager of the Hobart Class in February 2018, Navantia Australia is now responsible for maintenance of the design configuration of the three Hobart destroyers, in addition to having full authority for the design of the F-5000, Navantia’s proposed future frigate.
“The local capability which Navantia Australia has developed is significant,” said Mr Vilasanchez. “Navantia is immensely proud of the capability we are delivering to the Royal Australian Navy in the Hobart Class. With the formal transfer of the Hobart Class design authority, Navantia Australia is in an excellent position to lead the development of a sovereign naval capability. This new office will be instrumental in delivering top class design and engineering services for Australia.”
Navantia Australia has facilities in Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and will open a West Australian facility later this year. For over a decade, the company has worked with over 200 partners from around Australia to deliver world-leading naval capability to the Royal Australian Navy, including the Canberra Class amphibious vessels and landing craft, the Hobart Class destroyers, and the Supply Class replenishment vessels currently under construction.