The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has officially opened the Naval Group (formerly DCNS) and Lockheed Martin Australia Future Submarine office in Cherbourg.
The office is a tripartite secure facility which will house submarine designers, naval architects and engineers who will work alongside each other on Australia’s Future Submarine Program. The facility will be known as ‘Hughes House’, in recognition of Rear Admiral ‘Oscar’ Hughes, and his invaluable role in Australia’s submarine history as Director of the Collins Submarine Project.
"Today marks an important and tangible milestone for the program as the facility allows all three partners to work together in a modern and highly secure environment to further enhance and develop the already close partnership,” Naval Group CEO and chairman Herve Guillou said.
“We are looking forward to establishing an Australian workforce in Cherbourg to develop the skills and understanding required to establish a regionally superior submarine and develop a sovereign Australian industrial capability."
More than 50 Australians will join Naval Group and Lockheed Martin Australia employees to progress the important work of developing a mature design of the Future Submarine.
“This office will provide a collaboration space for the Naval Group and Lockheed Martin Australia to work closely with our Australian Government partners to provide the best possible submarine fleet to provide protection for Australia’s trade and assure the nation’s maritime security,” Lockheed Martin CEO ANZ Vince Di Pietro said.