This significant milestone saw the presence of Spanish representatives attend, including the Executive Chairman of Navantia, Mr. Jose Manuel Revuelta, who highlighted the importance of this milestone, as a key element of Navantia’s engagement with the Australian defence industries and organisations. This occasion paves the way for great relationships between the ADF and Navantia now and into the future.
The commissioning, which took place in Sydney, had also the presence of the Spanish Secretary of Defence, Mr. Pedro Arguelles, the Chief of Spanish Navy, Mr. Jaime Muñoz Delgado and the Spanish Ambassador to Australia, Mr. Enrique Viguera. This event was presided by the General Governor of Australia, his Excellency General the Honourable Peter Cosgrove and the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot.
HMAS Canberra was 85% built in Spain by Navantia and finished in Australia by BAE Systems. Navantia was responsible for the construction of the hull, including the installation and integration of all the systems on board in the hull up to the fly deck. This collaboration between Spain and Australia has been a significant step forward to allow the Australian Shipbuilding Industry to strengthen.
The Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, is a world reference in the design, construction and integration of state-of-the-art war ships, as well as ship repairs & modernizations. It is also engaged in the design and manufacture of Integrated Platform Management Systems, Fire Control Systems, Command and Control systems, Propulsion Plants and through life support for all its products. Although its main line of activity is in the naval field, Navantia designs and manufactures systems for the Army and the Air Force.
