Tasmanian firms are continuing to grow our reputation in advanced manufacturing and defence supply both locally and around the globe with Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) announced to supply Australia’s newest battleships.
LSA, based at Prince of Wales Bay, has been confirmed as the first local company to benefit from the Australian Navy’s $35 billion SEA5000 Future Frigate program announced on Friday.
This deal will be worth more than $10 million over a 10-year period and is expected to support up to 10 new jobs locally, lifting their current workforce from about 70 full-time staff, and it also reinforces the Hodgman Liberal Government’s strategy to proactively chase more Australian Defence Force contracts.
Under their supply arrangement with BAE Systems, Liferaft Systems will provide their advanced Marine Evacuation Systems (MES) to the nine new Hunter Class global combat ships to be built in Australia from 2020.
Each new frigate will have four LSA evacuation systems installed, two 11-metre inflatable evacuation slides with 115-person life rafts and two 14-metre evacuation slides with a 115-person life rafts.
This announcement follows on from LSA’s success in securing orders to supply to the two new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and the first batch of Type 26 Global Combat Ships for the British Royal Navy, as well as for 14 fast transport ships for the US Navy.
Importantly, Tasmanian Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Steve Gilmore AM CSC, continues to work tirelessly to open doors for Tasmanian businesses with large-scale defence suppliers like BAE Systems and continues to build awareness and confidence in our advanced manufacturing capability.
This is great news for other Tasmanian businesses already in line for significant contracts for the Future Frigate program like Taylor Brothers, CBG Systems and Direct Edge and we look forward to more announcements in the near future and across the life of the program.
This announcement also demonstrates to the broader global business community that the Tasmanian advanced manufacturing sector can deliver advanced products of high quality that are globally competitive for large-scale, high-value defence contracts.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries