Multi Million Pounds Contract for Nautronix
Nautronix LTD announces the signing of two contracts this week with the Australian Department of Defence (DOD) for the supply and support of specialised underwater systems to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The combined value of both contracts exceeds £7.1m and will provide ongoing work at the leading edge of systems integration for initially the next two to three years for the Fremantle based company.
The first contract is for the supply of a new Portable Acoustic Tracking Range to accurately measure the position of moving objects underwater to meet a variety of Australian Defence Force needs, particularly the RAN. The range will employ Nautronix Acoustic Subsea Portable Acoustic Range (NASPAR) technology developed by the company for the United States Navy (USN) and proven in trials off Hawaii in 2003.
This contract is valued in excess of £3.8m and will include further enhancements to existing Nautronix ADS2 and ranges technologies in the underwater acoustic environment. The range is planned to be operational in mid 2005 to meet RAN and USN requirements.
The second contract is for the supply and support of Mine Countermeasure Underwater Computer Systems (MUCS) under minor project Navy 1740. Through this project, MUCS will provide the RAN’s Clearance Divers with a modern electronic means to navigate in open water, conduct searches in inshore waters, log hydrographic and contact data in real time and provide an acoustic communications capability, whilst submerged.
The initial purchases and logistic support contract has a value of approximately £3.3m. Following an initial developmental period where three concept demonstrator units will be designed and manufactured, production MUCS units will be progressively delivered to the RAN commencing in 2006.
