Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR) has received a contract to maintain Australia’s new landing helicopter-dock (LHD) vessels.
Under the contract, worth approximately $52m, the company will be responsible for delivering capability support coordinator (CSC) services for the next five years.
Australia Defence Minister Senator David Johnston said: "KBR will bring their world-class asset management expertise to the sustainment of Australia’s new LHDs.
"This will ensure the vessels are always ready to meet their operational commitments, and maximise the availability of the ships throughout their 40-year lives."
The two LHDs, including HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, are reportedly the largest vessels built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Canberra-class LHDs are powered by a diesel and gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion system, which is blended with LM 2500 gas turbines and two MAN 16V32 / 40 diesel generators.
Scheduled to be commissioned later this year, HMAS Canberra reportedly damaged its hull and circuit breakers during a trial cruise.
Capable of carrying more than 1,100 personnel, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 helicopters, the 230m-long LHDs will be equipped with four 20mm automated guns, six 12.7mm machine guns, an anti-torpedo towed defence system and Nulka active-missile decoy system.
With further sea trials scheduled for July, the 27,000t vessel will be tasked with transporting military equipment and aviation units, as well as supporting humanitarian missions.
The second vessel, HMAS Adelaide, is scheduled to be commissioned in June 2015.
Image: The two LHDs will transport military equipment and aviation units. Photo: courtesy of BAE Systems.
