Navantia, the Spanish shipbuilder undertaking the construction of Australia’s new Air-Warfare Destroyers (AWD) and two amphibious ships (LHD), says it will establish a wholly-owned Australian entity under the corporate name, Navantia Australia Pty. Ltd.

The establishment of the Australian company comes as a strategic move for the Spanish naval constructor to stay in Australia for the long term. Australia is a key country for Navantia which has the ambition to become a reliable, solid supplier/partner for the Australian Defence Force for years to come.

Navantia also noted the increasing strength in the relationship between Australia and Spain, which in the recent years have signed two MoUs in the Defence area, one between both defence materiel organizations and the other between the Australian and Spanish Navies.

“Proof of this are the recent visits to Spain by the Governor-General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, who visited the shipbuilding facilities of Navantia in Ferrol, and the recent visit by the Australian Minister for Defence Materiel, Hon Jason Clare, who held meetings with officers of the company in Madrid and in the Ferrol shipyard, “ the company said.

In 2007, Navantia was awarded two contracts in Australia, one for the design of three destroyers (AWD) and one for the construction of two amphibious ships (LHD), in collaboration with the AWD Alliance (DMO, ASC and Raytheon) and BAE Australia respectively.