The Australian defense ministry has issued a request for information (RFI) in a bid to assess the capabilities of the Australian industry to design, manufacture and sustain military sea boats.
Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group’s (CASG) First Assistant Secretary Ships, Sheryl Lutz, said the four-week RFI would help inform procurement options for Australian-manufactured sea boats.
“The RFI will help CASG determine a baseline level of Australian industry content to inform future sea boat procurements across the Royal Australian Navy,” Ms Lutz said.
“The military sea boat is launched and recovered from a warship or submarine for the purpose of conducting naval operations at sea and is considered an essential enabler of maritime capability.”
The RAN is currently undertaking a whole-of-navy-capability study covering the use of military seaboats. This study will review and update the RAN seaboat operating concepts and requirements set so that they reflect the RAN’s future needs, major ship acquisition and modernization programs and a more complex maritime environment.
“The objectives of the RFI include establishing what Australian industry capabilities currently exist, and could potentially be developed, to design, manufacture and support sea boats for the RAN.
“Normally defense would host industry briefings around the country for such a significant RFI, however, given the current government guidelines around COVID-19 and mass gatherings we have pursued alternative information sharing options such as social media.”
The deadline for the RFI, published on AusTender, is April 30.
