Cost Performance

The Through Life Support Agreement with ASC Pty Ltd (ASC), when combined with an annual contracting methodology, creates the main concern for the completion of the project within the existing budget. Recent financial years have realised improvements in the annual cost estimation process for programming of work and achieving financial performance outcomes. However, overall cost over the life of the project has suffered through previous inaccurate estimation of work content, and the inability to control implementation schedules. Improvement is expected in future, now that the majority of engineering design work has been completed.

Schedule Performance

Current scheduled dates will not be achieved due to changes in the Submarine Full Cycle Docking (FCD) program (a result of unscheduled maintenance arisings), which is beyond the control of the project. Installation of engineering enhancements on HMA Submarines SHEEAN and RANKIN will also be subject to FCD delays.

Harbour and Sea Verification Trials of the Torpedo Decoy were successfully completed in HMA Submarine DECHAINEUX over June and July 2010.

Materiel Capability Performance

Only two sub-projects provide new capabilities; Special Forces upgrade and the Torpedo Decoy. The remaining sub-projects are medium to low complexity engineering enhancements. The Special Forces upgrade provides three capabilities. Two have achieved Operational Release (OR), while the remaining capability (Exit & Re-entry) has been delayed due to the requirement to implement safety modifications identified during the manned Sea Verification Trial. These modifications are planned to be implemented in HMA Submarine DECHAINEUX during its next docking in the first half of 2012. Torpedo Decoy Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) has slipped due to delays in achieving Initial Operational Release (IOR) for reasons outside of Project's control (revisions in Navy Regulations). The project has attained a regulator endorsed Certification Plan and Safety Case Report and is working closely with Directorate of Navy Certification to achieve IOR by December 2011.

Five engineering enhancements have been completed by the project. The remaining enhancements will be implemented progressively until 2022 subject to the submarine availability and the FCD program.