Austal has announced that an agreement has been reached to acquire Canberra-based Australian Technology Information Pty Ltd (ATI).
ATI is an Australian company that provides specialised services to the Australian Defence Forces including systems engineering and integration, information technology, verification and validation systems and deployable tactical command centres.
“ATI has developed a very successful business in providing state-of-the-art systems engineering and associated technologies to the Australian Defence Forces,” Austal Chief Operating Officer Andrew Bellamy said.
“These technologies are an ideal complement to Austal’s existing design and production capability in the defence sector and will allow Austal to expand the range of services and products that it can deliver to defence customers worldwide.”
Having recently delivered patrol boats to the Queensland Police, the Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard and the Defence Forces of Malta, Austal is currently completing its second Littoral Combat Ship (USS Coronado) for the US Navy and is constructing the first two of a five-vessel order of 103-metre catamaran Joint High Speed Vessels for the US Department of Defence.
Austal is also a contender for the award of contract to supply 8 x 45 metre patrol boats to the Australian Customs Service to replace the Bay Class patrol boats that were delivered to Customs by Austal in 2000.
Tenders have been lodged and a winner is expected to be selected in April 2011.
In financial year 2010 ATI turnover totalled A$6.1 million.