Aerius Marine Australia (Aerius) will deliver the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for the first three Hunter class frigates under a contract with BAE Systems Maritime Australia.
“We welcome AERIUS Marine Australia to the Hunter Class Frigate Program and look forward to working closely with a leading provider of global maritime HVAC solutions, Delivery Director – Acquisition, BAE Systems Maritime Australia, Andy Coxall, said.
“The Hunter class frigates are the bedrock of continuous naval shipbuilding in Australia, and we are committed to developing Australian industry capability."
The contract will see Aerius design, manufacture and install three shipsets of HVAC equipment which will control the complete onboard climate for the frigates.
“AERIUS Marine Australia also look forward to continuing their involvement in the Hunter Class Frigate Program, Managing Director, Aerius Marine Australia, Shankar Rasiah, highlighted.
“We have been engaged to date in the design and 3D modelling of the HVAC System with a core team of Australian engineers and draftspersons undertaking this design work."
The Hobart-based supplier is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the HVAC system on the Type 26 frigates being built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy in the UK.
“With over 80 Australian companies now contracted to supply into the first three frigates we are on track to create and sustain more than 5,000 jobs across BAE Systems Australia and the wider defence supply chain over the life of the program," Coxall stated.
While the HVAC system has been altered to fit the Hunter class anti-submarine warfare frigates, Aerius is able to leverage its knowledge and expertise as the OEM to deliver over 900 unique equipment parts that make up the HVAC system.
“These engineers and draftspersons together with specialist engineering service providers, manufacturers and contractors, each drawn from Australia’s marine industry, will form part of the AERIUS capability necessary to deliver the HVAC System for the frigates," Rasiah stated.
This contract is the last Long Lead Time Items (LLTI) contract for the first three frigates and has marked the completion of all platform and combat contracts for Batch 1 of the Hunter Class Frigate Program.