PMB Defence is the first South Australian company to secure a contract to potentially supply a critical piece of equipment on the Attack class submarines.

South Australian businesses could benefit from decades of work on the $50 billion Attack class program with the local company being awarded a subcontract with Naval Group Australia to design the main storage batteries for the program.     

PMB, along with Sunlight -.an internationally-recognised submarine battery designer and manufacturer based in Greece – have been contracted to provide design, prototyping and qualification activities for the main storage batteries.

Both organisations will provide Naval Group with the data necessary to select one as the preferred design for the Attack class program in 2022.

Defence SA Chief Executive Richard Price welcomed the announcement that PMB had been awarded a contract which could lead to significant opportunities for local industry.    

“PMB is great example of technology transfer building Australian industry capability. Established in 1988 under the Collins class program, PMB has grown into a exporter with 110 employees and an international footprint,” Price said. 

PMB is a leading supplier of high quality energy and specialised engineering solutions for submarine platforms in Australia. Since 1989 they have continuously supplied batteries for the Collins class submarines and more recently have been contracted to design the UK’s next generation submarine battery. 

PMB’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Faulkner said PMB looks forward to applying its unique understanding of Australian submarine operations to the design and manufacture of a superior Attack Class submarine battery system.

“This contract supports PMB’s ongoing growth of its skilled workforce and Defence exports from its Australian facilities,” Faulkner said. 

Naval Group Australia John Davis CEO said the supply contract will be awarded to the organisation that provides a technically superior design, represents the best value for money and demonstrates a strong commitment to the program’s Australian Industry Capability requirements.