Page 12 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2022

12 NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
VEEM TO BUILD HUNTER CLASS PROTOTYPE PROPELLERS
LEFT: Shipbuilders working on the Hunter program are currently manufacturing five prototype ship blocks.
Type 26 frigates currently under con- struction in the UK. The Hunter class frigate design is based on the Type 26.
Should VEEM’s prototype propellers meet requirements and pass Kongsberg Maritime’s quality approvals, it will pave the way for VEEM to be down-selected for the next phase – propeller manufacture for the first batch of three Hunter class frigates.
VEEM is expected to commence work on the prototype propeller blades at its Canning Vale facility in November and will complete the work by March 2024. The blades will be the same weight and size of those on the Hunter class, but they won’t be used on the first warship as they will be subject to destructive testing to verify procedures that will be used in the manufacturing process.
Shipbuilders working on the Hunter program are currently manufacturing five prototype ship blocks to test and refine the processes, systems, tools, facilities and workforce skills ahead of construction of the first Hunter ship blocks in 2023, which will become part of the first ship.
BAE Systems Australia has awarded WA- based company VEEM a $1.76m contract to manufacture two prototype propeller blades and a propeller hub under the guid- ance of Original Equipment Manufactur- er Kongsberg Maritime.
The contract is the final test of VEEM’s capability to manufacture to the Hunter’s
requirements and is a significant mile- stone for the Perth-based marine technol- ogy company as it endeavours to become a Defence-qualified warship propeller man- ufacturer for the Hunter program.
Since 2020, VEEM has been sup- ported by Kongsberg Maritime, which is the propeller supplier for BAE Systems’
VRA CONTRACTED TO DELIVER SPIKE FOR LAND 400
VARLEY Rafael Australia (VRA), a joint venture between the Varley Group and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, have been contracted by the Commonwealth to deliver ‘a quantity’ of Spike LR2 missile to enable integration and acceptance testing for the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles and the preferred Land 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
VRA’s contract includes the provision of Spike LR2 Mechanical and Outdoor Training rounds and delivery of user training. VRA is also in contract with the Commonwealth to support the Technical Certification of the Spike LR2 missile, to enable its introduction into service with the ADF.
“This is a major milestone on our proposed roadmap to establish SPIKE missile manufacturing capability right here in Australia,” Ben Walter, the CEO of VRA, said. “Our proposal to
Defence includes manufacturing of inert components and integration, rocket propulsion and warhead systems, hot integration and associated storage requirements.
“It aims to facilitate the production and support capabilities of our industry partners and local supply chain, and
will result in the creation of new high- technology jobs and the upskilling of Australian personnel. In this current political environment, a local manufacturing capability would deliver the category-superior, 5th generation Spike LR2 missile into service faster than extantacquisitionapproaches.”
LEFT: Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles at Wide Bay Training Area, Queensland.
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