BAE Systems Awarded Adelaide Class Frigate Support Contract

SYDNEY, Australia --- BAE Systems has been awarded a five-year contract to provide engineering, maintenance and supply support to the Royal Australian Navys four guided missile frigates (FFGs).>> BAE Systems will assume the Integrated Materiel Support service delivery for the Adelaide Class frigates, HMAS Darwin, HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Newcastle and HMAS Sydney from 1 January next year.>> The performance-based contract is expected to generate approximately $60 million in revenue over the life of the agreement. The scope of the contract will see BAE Systems:>> -- Managing integrated materiel support including quality management;> -- Undertaking engineering analysis, changes and support;> -- Planning for all maintenance activities, preparing work instructions, responding to defects and preparing technical documentation, and> -- Providing inventory analysis and planning, management of spares and other supply support.>> BAE Systems Australias Managing Director Jim McDowell said today that the contract would also significantly enhance the companys strategic footprint at the Garden Island naval facility in Sydney.>> This new contract will require BAE Systems to create 60 new jobs at Garden Island and North Ryde, more than doubling the size of our existing workforce there, Mr McDowell said.>> The awarding of this contract is another example of BAE Systems capabilities in providing the best possible through-life support for the RAN.>>> BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded 15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.