Project | Explanation |
Background | The Defence Capability Plan 2004-14 identified a requirement to replace the Heavy Landing Ship HMAS Tobruk (JP 2048 Phase 4A) and one Amphibious Landing Ship, either HMAS Manoora or Kanimbla (JP 2048 Phase 4B). In the Defence Capability Plan 2006-16, Phases 4A and 4B of JP 2048 were amalgamated. A Request For Information was undertaken to gather vessel capability and industry capacity information from international and Australian ship designers and shipbuilders. A Risk Reduction and Design Study and a preliminary Request for Quotation were also undertaken to provide commercial, technical, financial and schedule information for First Pass. First Pass approval was obtained in August 2005 with the identification of two existing LHD designs that could meet the capability requirements (Armaris' Mistral and Navantia's BPE) and the identification of potential Australian shipbuilders. After First Pass, a 'Design Development Activity' was conducted at the designers' respective premises to clarify the necessary Australian environmental and technical requirements, resulting in 'Australianised' designs. During this process, two shipbuilder/designer teams were formed with Tenix Defence working with Navantia and Thales Australia with Armaris. A Request for Tender was released in April 2006 to the shipbuilders for the construction of the 'Australianised' designs. Both builders submitted compliant tenders which were evaluated, and second Pass approval for the Tenix-Navantia solution was obtained in June 2007. A contract was signed in October 2007 between the Commonwealth and Tenix Defence (now BAE Systems Australia Defence), for the acquisition of the two Spanish designed Canberra Class LHD ships and support systems; the contract came into effect in November 2007. |
Uniqueness | While the LHDs are based on an existing Spanish BPE design, the "Australianisation" changes, the incorporation of an existing SAAB Combat System, and the development and integration of the internal and external communication systems will result in a unique vessel. Despite the experience gained in amphibious operations with the current amphibious ships in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the LHDs will bring a new and unique capability to the ADF by virtue of their size, aviation, well dock, and communications capabilities. A unique build strategy is being employed. The LHD hulls will be built, including the majority of the fit-out, by Navantia at the Ferrol and Fene Shipyards in Spain. They will be transported to Australia as individual lifts on a 'float on/float off' heavy lift ship. Construction of the superstructure and its consolidation with the hull will be conducted by BAE Systems Australia Defence at their Williamstown (Victoria) Shipyard in Australia. The superstructure contains the high level Combat and Communications Systems equipment that will need to be maintained and upgraded in Australia. BAE Systems Australia Defence will also undertake the final out-fit, set-to-work, and trials. |
Major Challenges | The project has completed Preliminary Design and Detailed Design Reviews. To date the project has not experienced any major issues that will affect the delivery dates of the LHDs. However, it has experienced a number of minor issues concerning the design and integration. During the initial stages of the Contract, the project noticed a slow ramp-up of contractor resources. This has since been addressed through additional recruitment. Workforce capacity remains an essential enabler for timely project completion. Control of commercially sensitive Intellectual Property remains an on-going management issue for all parties. While the LHD ships are based on the existing Spanish BPE design, the Australian combat and communication capability requires design and integration work to be undertaken. The task of integration of the Australian elements, such as the combat system and internal/external communications systems, has proved to be more complex than initially thought. Additional time has been required to address integration issues and caused some Preliminary and Detailed Design Reviews to be deferred slightly. One of the additional challenges for this project remains the potential for regulatory changes and/or requirements creep on the capability requirements. The project has a fixed budget for the approved requirements, and any changes to regulations that require a change to the vessel or requested capability changes are likely to impact on the project's performance, cost, and schedule outcomes. |
Other Current Projects/Sub-Projects | JP 2048 Phase 3: Watercraft system acquisition to be used in conjunction with the Phase 4A/4B LHD Mission System. These watercraft will be the ship to shore connector for the LHDs. JP 2048 Phase 4C: Phase 4C acquisition of a strategic sealift capability. JP 2048 Phase 5: Landing Craft Heavy Replacement capable of small scale independent operations and augmenting larger amphibious and sealift ships. |