General Atomics

JFD secures RAN submarine rescue contract extension

JFD Australia, part of James Fisher & Sons, provider of the submarine rescue system to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) since 2009, will continue to deliver this critical sovereign capability for a further four years after finalising an extension to its contract with the Department of Defence.


 
Image courtesy JFD

The announcement ensures total continuity of this life-saving service which is on standby and ‘rescue ready’ at all times to retrieve the crew of a disabled submarine anywhere in the world from JFD Australia’s national headquarters and advanced support centre at Bibra Lake, in Perth, Western Australia.

Ms Cathy Falkiner, Managing Director, JFD Australia, said: “Keeping our submariners safe has always been our number-one priority and we are very pleased to be able to continue this commitment and support to the Navy,

“Importantly, JFD is able to both operate and sustain all elements of the system which includes the piloted rescue vehicle that dives down to locate and transfer submariners from under the water to the ocean’s surface and a state-of-the-art hyperbaric equipment suite that can provide life-saving medical treatment, if needed.

“Only JFD has the capability and track record to deliver a complete submarine escape and rescue system as well as adequately operate and sustain the system to global benchmarks.”

JFD Australia’s rescue system is designed to be air-transportable which is a crucial aspect of submarine rescue in a country and region where size, geography and local conditions can be challenging.

Of the six air-transportable submarine rescue systems in the world, JFD has the contracts to supply and support four of them – Australia, India (two systems), and the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) making JFD the world’s leading provider of submarine rescue systems.

Cathy said: “Receiving this contract extension means we can really plan for the future and that starts with creating more local jobs,”

“There will be employment opportunities at JFD Australia and potentially across our supply chain companies in what is a major investment in local economies and the local defence industry.”

Related

The UK wants sovereign drones, but who makes the batteries?
Woman in Camouflage Uniform Working installing batteries on Next Generation Drone.
The UK wants sovereign drones, but who makes the batteries?
The UK is putting more than £5 billion into drones and autonomous systems, with UK industry expected to benefit. But building a drone in the UK is not the same as controlling the supply chain inside it. Volklec CCO Johan Andersson tells ADS Advance why battery cells could become one of the hardest dependencies to break.
Aerospace Defence Focus Insights ...

22 Aug 2026

TT Electronics deepens aerospace and defence ties with Rolls-Royce and MBDA Italia
TT Electronics expands partership with Rolls-Royce
TT Electronics deepens aerospace and defence ties with Rolls-Royce and MBDA Italia
A lifetime Rolls-Royce agreement and a new Letter of Intent with MBDA Italia are putting TT Electronics deeper into the systems that power civil aircraft and defence platforms.
Luton Airport becomes first UK airport to install emergency anaphylaxis kits
Luton Airport rolls out life-saving Allergy Kitts
Luton Airport becomes first UK airport to install emergency anaphylaxis kits
The rollout places anaphylaxis treatment points in key passenger areas, including security, departures and baggage reclaim.
Aerospace

21 Aug 2026

Navantia UK’s £26.7m Methil investment builds sovereign shipbuilding capacity
Rear Admiral Matthew Stratton tours Methil
Navantia UK’s £26.7m Methil investment builds sovereign shipbuilding capacity
Navantia UK is modernising its Methil yard for future defence work as investment, new equipment and recruitment rebuild shipbuilding capacity in Fife.
Defence

24 Aug 2026

Royal Navy ends NATO task force deployment with handover to France
Royal navy pass command to French Navy
Royal Navy ends NATO task force deployment with handover to France
The transfer of SNMG1 command follows four months of operations across some of NATO's most strategically important waters.
Defence

23 Aug 2026

The UK wants sovereign drones, but who makes the batteries?
Woman in Camouflage Uniform Working installing batteries on Next Generation Drone.
The UK wants sovereign drones, but who makes the batteries?
The UK is putting more than £5 billion into drones and autonomous systems, with UK industry expected to benefit. But building a drone in the UK is not the same as controlling the supply chain inside it. Volklec CCO Johan Andersson tells ADS Advance why battery cells could become one of the hardest dependencies to break.
Aerospace Defence Focus Insights ...

22 Aug 2026

Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Enpulsion space propulsion manufacturer buys UK company lift me off
Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Austrian spacecraft propulsion manufacturer ENPULSION has agreed to acquire British specialist Lift Me Off, bringing together electric and chemical propulsion capabilities in a deal that will require UK Government approval.
Member News Space

21 Aug 2026

Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
Lanarkshire’s AI Innovation Park
Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
A £202 million guarantee from the UK National Wealth Fund has attracted an investment of £300 million in Lanarkshire's AI Growth Zone, which with Dell Technologies establishing a base there too, is set to support over 3,400 skilled jobs.
UK satellite funding targets connectivity ‘not-spots’ for farmers and remote railways
Young farmer works with a digital tablet in a wheat field, smart farm and quality control
UK satellite funding targets connectivity ‘not-spots’ for farmers and remote railways
British farmers and passengers travelling through remote parts of Scotland could gain better connectivity through a new £13 million package backing 16 UK satellite communications projects.
Space

18 Aug 2026

UK defence jobs jump by 26,000 as MoD spending supports 274,000 workers
UK defence jobs jump by 26,000 as MoD spending supports 274,000 workers
Ministry of Defence spending with UK industry now supports one in every 100 jobs, according to new figures.
Defence Security

21 Aug 2026

Darktrace among first cybersecurity firms selected to integrate risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365
Using laptop and mobile phone
Darktrace among first cybersecurity firms selected to integrate risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365
The integration will bring Darktrace's behavioural risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365, enabling customers to view organisation-specific insights alongside Microsoft signals in a single interface.
Security

20 Aug 2026

Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
Lanarkshire’s AI Innovation Park
Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
A £202 million guarantee from the UK National Wealth Fund has attracted an investment of £300 million in Lanarkshire's AI Growth Zone, which with Dell Technologies establishing a base there too, is set to support over 3,400 skilled jobs.