AERIUS Marine Australia has been awarded a contract by BAE Systems Maritime Australia to supply the complete Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for the first three Hunter class frigates. The contract covers the design, manufacture, and installation of three full shipsets, which will manage the onboard climate control for the advanced anti-submarine warfare vessels.
The Hobart-based company brings proven expertise to the program as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the HVAC systems on the UK Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates, the design basis for the Hunter class. While the system has been adapted for the Australian vessels, AERIUS will leverage its existing knowledge to deliver the more than 900 unique parts that comprise each complex HVAC system.
This agreement finalises the last Long Lead Time Items contract for Batch 1 of the Hunter Class Frigate Program, marking the completion of all major platform and combat system contracts for the initial three ships.
Andy Coxall, Delivery Director – Acquisition at BAE Systems Maritime Australia, welcomed AERIUS to the program. “We look forward to working closely with a leading provider of global maritime HVAC solutions,” he stated. Coxall emphasised the program’s role in national shipbuilding, saying, “With over 80 Australian companies now contracted for the first three frigates, we are on track to create and sustain more than 5,000 jobs across BAE Systems and the wider defence supply chain.”
Shankar Rasiah, Managing Director of AERIUS Marine Australia, highlighted the local capability involved. The company has already been engaged in the design and 3D modelling phase using a core Australian team of engineers and draftspersons. “This team, together with specialist Australian manufacturers and contractors drawn from the marine industry, will form the AERIUS capability necessary to deliver the HVAC System for the frigates,” Rasiah said.
The contract underscores the growing involvement of Australian industry in the sovereign naval program, transferring global expertise into local manufacturing and technical employment.
