Cohort subsidiary Chess Dynamics has been awarded a contract valued at GBP 15.7 million (EUR 18.37 million) by BAE Systems Maritime Australia to supply its Sea Eagle surveillance systems for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Hunter-class frigates, the company announced on 19 March 2024.
Work will begin immediately and will continue until 2031.
Sea Eagle is a highly capable naval surface ship surveillance system for the detection, tracking, and identification of surface and air targets. It has been selected by several leading maritime forces, including for the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates.
“This order provides further confirmation of the capability and competitiveness of Chess’s Sea Eagle system and we are delighted to add the Royal Australian Navy to the user base,” Cohort Chief Executive Andy Thomis was quoted as saying in company press release. “This, combined with the recent contract with the Royal Canadian Navy, demonstrates the continuing expansion of Cohort’s international customer base.
“Together with other recent contract wins across the Group, this further underpins our order book and enhances the visibility of future revenues,” Thomis added.
The blueprint for the RAN surface combatant fleet released by the Australian government on 20 February 2024 calls for six Hunter-class frigates, which will be built at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The Hunter-class design is based on the UK Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigate.