Naval Ship Management (NSM) has partnered with L3Harris Technologies to provide engineering, maintenance and supply chain solutions to support Australia’s largest warship – the Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ship, also known as the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), and its associated assets.
Under the four-and-a-half-year subcontractor agreement, L3Harris will be responsible for the Integrated Communication Systems (ICS) maintenance and support, as well as the Through Life Support Facility (TLSF), ensuring the LHD and its capabilities are seaworthy, reliable and mission ready.
This contract announcement continues to build on NSM’s well established role as the LHD Asset Class Prime Contractor, which officially got underway on 1 July 2019, following a successful six-month phase-in period.
NSM’s General Manger, Joe Smith, said the contract is a good example of NSM’s inclusive approach to naval sustainment.
“L3Harris has always been recognised as a key component of our LHD ACPC team and is already a signatory to the LHD Enterprise Charter, formalised on 1 July 2019, which sets out the vision, mission, values and behaviours within the LHD Enterprise.”
“This strategic relationship with L3Harris will allow us both to provide more efficient and effective sustainment support to the LHD Enterprise. As the LHD Asset Class Prime Contractor, we have enjoyed taking the lead with L3Harris on defining NSM’s first Enterprise Agreement, and are actively engaged with other strategic partners to develop similar agreements that will further benefit the LHD Enterprise,” he said.
“This contract represents L3Harris’ ongoing commitment to supporting the Royal Australian Navy,” said Alan Titheridge, Managing Director, L3Harris Technologies Australia Group. “We’re pleased to be working with NSM and investing in additional capability to provide world-class engineering, procurement, maintenance and project management services for Australia’s largest and most complex surface vessel, enabling the RAN to effectivity communicate at sea.”
From its origins in 2012, NSM recognised there was no need to replicate capabilities that exist within Australian industry and have developed the Inclusive Prime model. Fundamental to the philosophy behind NSM’s Inclusive Prime model is its approach to partnerships. NSM strategically aligns with key partners to deliver effective, efficient naval solutions. These strategic partners are integrated into NSM’s services and provide access to important technical data, knowledge and capabilities.