Submarines

COLLINS CLASS SUBMARINES THROUGH-LIFE SUPPORT

Value

25 year, multi-billion dollar contract

Key Partners

ASC Pty Ltd 
Defence Materiel Organisation 
Royal Australian Navy 

Project Overview

The Collins Class fleet was constructed at ASC’s Osborne facility between 1990 and 2003. The facility now provides ongoing design enhancements, maintenance and through-life support for the fleet. ASC’s agreement with the Defence Materiel Organisation for the provision of this service runs for 15 years, with a 10-year extension option. This project contributes around $150 million and 1400 jobs to the state’s economy per year. 

The Collins Class submarine is 78 metres long, 8 metres in diameter and has a displacement of 3,000 tonnes. 

The submarines rotate through an extensive maintenance and upgrade refit program known as a full-cycle docking. This massive undertaking of some 1.25 million hours of labour and 7,500 tasks requires ASC to deliver:

  • a replacement Combat System
  • a heavyweight Torpedo
  • sewage automation
  • Halon fire suppression
  • numerous other modifications and enhancements

For more information visit ASC

Project Milestones

Mar 2003 HMAS Rankin is delivered to the Navy, the final submarine of the Collins Class fleet

Mar 2003 Through-life-support contract issued to ASC Pty Ltd

Aug 2004 ASC completes first Collins Class full-cycle docking on HMAS Farncomb

Mar 2007 Completion of HMAS Waller’s full-cycle docking, including first time implementation of the replacement combat system and heavyweight torpedo upgrades

May 2010 Completion of HMAS Dechaineux full-cycle docking