Lockheed to Integrate Combat System on Future Australia Submarine Fleet

Lockheed Martin‘s Australia-based subsidiary has been awarded a contract install combat systems on 12 future ­submarines for that country’s navy, The Australian newspaper reported Friday.

Brendan Nicholson writes Lockheed will integrate the combat systems in partnership with Australia’s defense department and France-based company DCNS.

DCNS was chosen for the potential $38.7 billion contract in April to help design 12 submarines that will replace Australia’s fleet of Collins-class submarines as part of the country’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine Program.

Australian defense minister Marise Payne and ­defense industry minister Christopher Pyne said Lockheed aims to partner with local businesses for engineering support and the combat system integration program could create up to 200 jobs, Nicholson reported.

The combat system will include a range of features such as sonars and torpedoes.