Defence and aerospace company Lockheed Martin Australia has opened a second round of research and development request for quotations for industry and academic institutions to develop advanced technologies in support of Australia’s Attack class submarine program.

The first round of grants in March saw more than $900,000 allocated. With the second round now open, Australian and international parties are encouraged to submit expressions of interest to support the programme with projects in communications, celestial navigation, underwater sensor networks and compressive sensing techniques, power monitoring and management methods, advanced materials and fabrication processes, real-time monitoring of human performance, and smart driven dynamic reallocation of computing resources.

Successful applicants will receive seed grants of $75,000 each, along with the opportunity to develop a white paper to support their project.

Lockheed Martin Interim Chief Executive Scott Thompson says Lockheed Martin Australia looks forward to working with the successful applicants to develop and deliver world-class innovative technologies for Australia’s Attack class submarines.

“The Attack class submarine program represents a long-term, multimillion-dollar investment in the future defence and security of our nation,” he says. “Today’s announcement is one more step towards helping to ensure Australia has the technology and skills to deliver and maintain a regionally superior submarine fleet.

“Lockheed Martin Australia, in concert with the Department of Defence, is proud to be creating genuine R&D opportunities for industry and academia to develop enhanced and innovative combat system capabilities.”

Interested parties can submit expressions of interest by 2nd September.