Australia must hold Austal and Austal USA shipbuilding as re-industrialisation capability, says former PM Kevin Rudd

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has emphasized the critical importance of retaining Austal and its American subsidiary for Australia’s national re-industrialization capability. Speaking at the National Press Club of Australia on September 10 in an address titled “Navigating Australia’s future in an uncertain world,” Rudd underscored the significance of Austal in the country’s defense industry landscape.

Austal, a major player in the defense industry, is currently facing acquisition offers from South Korean defense giant Hanwha Group and a newcomer syndicate led by Wildcat Infrastructure LLC to purchase Austal USA from its parent company, Austal Limited. Rudd highlighted the strategic significance of Austal’s American subsidiary, based in Mobile, Alabama, which is now the fourth-largest shipbuilder in the United States, emphasizing the need for it to remain in Australian hands.

Rudd also pointed out the opportunities presented by the AUKUS Pact, particularly Pillar 2, which offers Australia’s defense industry extensive collaboration opportunities with American firms and access to the vast US defense market. He praised Minister Conroy’s Defense Industry Development Strategy for outlining Australia’s defense industrial base needs for the future, urging the Defense Delivery Agency to take responsibility for its implementation.

In a related development, Kongsberg Maritime recently announced a partnership with Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia to supply Kamewa Steel Series waterjets for the Australian Army’s new Landing Craft Medium fleet. Under the agreement, Kongsberg Maritime will provide four Kamewa Steel Series waterjets for each vessel in the new landing craft class, which will be constructed at Austal’s shipyards in Western Australia.

The Landing Craft Medium vessels, part of the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement between Austal and the Australian government, are designed to transport payloads of up to 80 tonnes. This agreement further solidifies the longstanding relationship between Kongsberg Maritime and Austal, with Magnus Fahlén, senior vice-president of waterjet systems at Kongsberg Marine, expressing delight at the extension of collaboration to a new customer in the Australian Army.

The partnership between Kongsberg Maritime and Austal highlights the confidence in Kamewa waterjet propulsion systems for delivering high-performance solutions in demanding operational environments. This collaboration underscores the importance of fostering relationships within the defense industry to support Australia’s re-industrialization efforts and strengthen its defense capabilities in an uncertain global landscape. Austal Australia has announced a significant milestone in its partnership with Kongsberg Maritime to deliver waterjet systems for the Australian Army’s Landing Craft Medium (LCM) fleet. The collaboration aims to enhance the fleet’s capabilities for decades to come.

Tim Speer, the chief engineer at Austal Defence Australia, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We look forward to supporting the successful delivery of the Landing Craft Medium fleet and contributing to a capability that will serve the Australian Army for decades to come.” This partnership signifies a crucial step in ensuring the fleet’s efficiency and reliability.

Kongsberg Maritime played a vital role in the pre-contract LCM design activity by conducting cavitation tunnel testing in their Hydrodynamic Research Centre. Speer emphasized the significance of Kongsberg Maritime’s support during the design phase, particularly in understanding and de-risking the propulsion system performance.

The Kamewa Steel Series waterjets provided by Kongsberg Maritime are specifically designed for high-performance applications, offering a combination of efficiency, manoeuvrability, and reliability for naval, governmental, and commercial vessels worldwide. The delivery of these waterjet systems will be synchronized with Austal Defence Australia’s vessel construction schedule, ensuring a seamless integration process.

This partnership highlights the commitment of both Austal Australia and Kongsberg Maritime to deliver cutting-edge technology and support to enhance the capabilities of the Australian Army’s LCM fleet. With a focus on efficiency, reliability, and performance, the collaboration aims to ensure the long-term success of the fleet in fulfilling its operational requirements.

Overall, the partnership between Austal Australia and Kongsberg Maritime signifies a significant step towards strengthening Australia’s naval capabilities and ensuring the readiness of the Australian Army’s LCM fleet for future missions. The dedication and expertise of both companies will play a crucial role in shaping the future of maritime defense in Australia.