Science, engineering and technology company KBR has been awarded an $85 million contract as capability life cycle manager for the Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious and replenishment vessels at Garden Island, off Western Australia’s southwest coast, the Australian Department of Defence announced Friday.
KBR’s tasks include maintaining the RAN’s Canberra-class landing helicopter docks, supply-class auxiliary oilers, and the landing ship dock HMAS Choules.
Defence said having a multi-class life cycle capability manager will be more effective in managing resources and providing consistency among similar defense asset classes. The contract, a first for the RAN and in line with the Albanese government’s employment creation goals, will support nearly 300 local jobs, including indirect employment through the supply chain, it added.
According to a KBR statement, Babcock Australasia, A&P Australia, Goal Group and other local companies will collaborate with the contractor.
Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy stressed that the growth of the country’s naval industrial capability “is not just good for jobs” but also an imperative for national security and economic development.
Houston, Texas-based KBR’s Australian footprint also manifested in November when the company announced its investment in Cognition Analytica’s Achilles program to improve the Australian Defence Force’s cyber capabilities.