ATSA Defence Services, the specialised service arm of UVS, celebrates fifteen years of service to the Royal Australian Navy this year.
Established as a service partner for Saab Underwater Systems (now Saab Dynamics) in 2000, ATSA has been a successful spin-off from the $1bn Minehunter Coastal Project that saw six Huon Class Minehunter ships constructed in Newcastle, NSW. The Minehunter fleet is now based at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney and continues to provide a leading edge minewarfare capability for the Australian Defence Force.

The Saab “Double Eagle” Mine Disposal System is embarked in the Minehunter ships and provides the principal weapon system for disposal of sea mines identified by the ship’s mine hunting sonar. The Double Eagle vehicles are highly sophisticated using flight-control software to provide a full six-degree of freedom control for accurate and quite manoeuvring when close to sea mines. ATSA’s workshops and dedicated test facilities provide a highly effective capability for maintenance repair and upgrade of Double Eagle Mine Disposal Vehicles and associated equipment including the Control Console, Automatic Tension Control Winch and Power Control Unit. ATSA’s engineering and technical team work closely with Thales to provide complete in-country in-service support for the Mine Disposal System. The net result has been a “win-win” for defence and industry with excellence in support available to the RAN combined with local high tech jobs in Newcastle and a strong relationship built between Australia and Sweden as ATSA and Saab have worked closely together over the years.

UVS General Manager Defence, Jennylee Taylor, said that SME’s were an essential part of the support capability for Defence in Australia. “SME’s such as ATSA provide an innovative and focussed capability that has ensured excellence in local support for the Double Eagle system for fifteen years”.

The Double Eagle system was the most advanced of its type when introduced into service with the RAN in 1999 and a system upgrades and improvements developed by Saab have ensured a flexible upgrade path is available to ensure that the system remains ahead of contemporary threats and provides the RAN with the full capability available from modern electronics and software. The Double Eagle system is in operation with many naval forces globally demonstrating the proven capability of the system upgrades.

ATSA is a member of the Supplier Continuous Improvement Program (SCIP) and has implemented
LEAN practices to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Double Eagle workshop

 

Over 100 Double Eagle vehicle overhauls have been completed in
support of the RAN Minewarfare capability by ATSA Defence Services