Last year, the Commonwealth of Australia announced the selection of KONGSBERG’s NSM to replace the Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile capability on the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) ANZAC Class Frigates and HOBART Class Destroyers. This includes the large scale fabrication of the Launcher Ramp Systems that are fitted to each class of ship and support the Launcher Missile Modules (LMM).
Last month, Marand welcomed visitors from Defence and representatives from both KONGSBERG in Norway and Australia to their Moorabbin (VIC) facility to complete the FAT. They inspected the first unit and reviewed all documentation including manufacturing and test data. After the declaration of a successful FAT milestone achievement, the group witnessed a trial assembly and disassembly sequence.
Rohan Stocker, Marand’s CEO said “This milestone is a credit to the contribution and hard work of the Marand team, and also to the support and partnership we have built with KONGSBERG. Our role on SEA 1300 provides the opportunity to demonstrate that Marand are capable and ready to contribute quickly to the equipment and capability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). In the case of the launcher ramps, we have procured the materials, completed all the fabrication, welding and machining into our process to ensure the high accuracy of the critical interfaces and ultimately a successful Factory Acceptance Test. We now look forward to managing a steady drum beat of production units”.
John Fry, General Manager of Kongsberg Defence Australia said “It is fantastic to see this critical milestone has been reached, just eight months after Marand was awarded the contract to manufacture the Launcher Ramp Systems. We have been impressed by Marand’s responsiveness and workmanship this far. We will manufacture almost all the Launcher Ramp Systems in Australia, demonstrating KONGSBERG’s commitment to maximising local content and generating domestic manufacturing capability’.
Air Marshal Leon Phillips OAM, Chief of Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO), Defence said “The Naval Strike Missile will enhance the ADF’s ability to precisely strike maritime targets at extended range. We are committed to uplifting Australian industry involvement. I am pleased that through our partnership with KONGSBERG, the first Australian built launch ramps are being produced by Marand. The local production of bespoke elements of complex weapon systems demonstrates the capabilities that reside in Australian small-to-medium enterprises. These highly skilled SMEs underpin the complex weapon systems delivered by Primes. In partnership with KONGSBERG, this is the first of many locally produced precision components that make up the weapon system”.
Photo: AIRCDRE Mark Scougall, Director General Explosive Materiel, Defence and his team, Marand, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Kongsberg Defence Australia.
