Over the weekend Defence confirmed the acquisition of ADV Guidance, formerly MV Normand Jarl, to serve as a dedicated Undersea Support Vessel for the Royal Australian Navy. In a statement, Defence said that the vessel would be used to support trials of emerging undersea surveillance technologies.
The vessel will support both crewed and uncrewed undersea platforms as well as multiple robotic and autonomous systems. ADM understands that the ship, bought for $110 million, will arrive in Australia from Singapore sometime during Q3 2023.
Guidance is expected to support a wide range of projects, programs and operations during its military service. Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, said that the ship would support the rollout of the Navy’s Robotics, Autonomous Systems and Artificial Intelligence (RAS-AI) strategy as well as undersea initiatives that makeup AUKUS pillars one and two.
“The Albanese Government is determined to build the capability the Australian Defence Force needs for the circumstances we face,” Conroy stated. “ADV Guidance will provide a platform to support the development, trialling, and delivery of undersea systems, including Navy’s robotic and autonomous undersea capability, and support efforts under AUKUS.”
ADM also understands that the decision to buy a commercial vessel and convert it into the Undersea Support Vessel was taken in March 2022, before Labor came to power. The selection and purchase of Guidance, however, likely took place under the purview of the new government.
Brent Clark, CEO of the Australian Industry and Defence Network (AIDN), said that it was “disappointing” that the government had again decided to buy a vessel from offshore - as it did with ADV Reliant and ADV Ocean Protector.
“AIDN finds it disappointing to see the procurement of a commercial capability from offshore that could have been sourced in Australia. It is these types of programs that ensure that the Australian workforce enhances their skill levels to ensure that they can deliver more complex programs such as nuclear submarines. If we continue to acquire capability from overseas, then it seems unlikely that the Government can create a sovereign and indigenous industrial capability,” Clark told ADM.
Guidance will likely play an important supporting role in ongoing projects to develop Australian uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV) including Ghost Shark, SeaWolf and Speartooth. Programs such as Sea 1905, Maritime Mine Countermeasures and Military Survey, and Sea 5012 Phase 1, Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), will also likely benefit from the vessel's dedicated undersea support capabilities and mission.
According to Defence, Guidance's modular design means that it is well-suited to a variety of roles, through the use of different personnel and equipment load-outs for different missions. Notably, the vessel is equipped with a moon pool, allowing the discreet operation of sensitive payloads. Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment, Tony Dalton, said that Guidance would be ‘instrumental’ in developing Defences’ undersea capabilities.
“ADV Guidance will be instrumental in developing and testing robotic and autonomous underwater systems, ensuring Defence can compete and succeed in a wide variety of complex undersea environments,” Dalton said.
ADM further understands that Teekay Shipping Australia will provide the core vessel crew for Guidance with additional Defence personnel embarking as necessary. Guidance will primarily operate out of Fleet Base East in Sydney, close to a variety of other Defence installations including RAAF Richmond and Holsworthy Barracks.
The acquisition of the new undersea support vessel was foreshadowed by ADM on 6 April.