The Australian Department of Defence has listed the Collins-class submarine sustainment project as a product of concern. The decision will enhance ministerial oversight of the critical capability and ensure the fleet’s effectiveness throughout its service life.
Defence said the submarines are operating beyond their original design life, which means increased support is necessary to ensure their sustainment requirements are met. To address this, the ministry will develop a remediation plan, with a Product of Concern Summit expected in early 2025.
Defence Minister Pat Conroy emphasized the government’s commitment to propelling key defense projects. “By listing Collins class sustainment as a product of concern, the government is demonstrating its commitment to remediating these challenges and ensuring the submarine enterprise, which includes Defence and ASC Pty Ltd, delivers and sustains improved performance,” the minister said.
The Collins-class submarine program is designed to maintain a strong underwater force for the Royal Australian Navy. A crucial component of this program is the Life of Type Extension project, LOTE for short, which aims to extend the operational life of each submarine by an additional 10 years. With a budget of up to $4.1 billion, LOTE is focused on addressing significant technical risks to ensure a long-term, reliable capability.
In June, Defence also signed a new four-year sustainment contract with ASC valued at $2.2 billion. The local shipbuilder provides comprehensive maintenance services for the Collins class at two locations. Full-cycle dockings, which involve extensive overhauls and upgrades, are conducted at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia while shorter-term maintenance needs are carried out at a facility in Henderson, Western Australia, located near the submarine fleet’s home base.
Other projects in the program are the Communications and Electronic Warfare Improvement project, which focuses on upgrading the boats’ communication systems and EW capabilities, and the Sonar Capability Assurance Project, which will upgrade sonar systems to address obsolescence and ensure a detection capability until the end of the submarines’ operations.