Image copyright BAE Systems
British defence large BAE Systems has received a multi-million pound contract from the Australian authorities to construct 9 new warships, marking a vital victory for British army exports.
BAE beat Italian and Spanish rivals to win a giant slice of the £20bn spending programme.
The ships might be in-built Australia, however are primarily based on the Type 26 design BAE is constructing for the Royal Navy.
The Prime Minister stated the deal was "an enormous boost" for the UK economic system.
It is the primary export of a British design for new-build frigates because the 1970s, the federal government stated.
Mrs May stated the deal mirrored the federal government's technique to "build on our close relationships with allies like Australia" because the UK prepares to go away the EU.
Australian jobs
The "Hunter class" ships, that are anti-submarine warfare frigates, might be in-built Adelaide by government-owned ASC Shipbuilding, creating as much as four,000 jobs there, as a part of a 30 to 35-year funding programme.
"The Hunter class will provide the Australian Defence Force with the highest levels of lethality and deterrence our major surface combatants need in periods of global uncertainty," the Australian authorities stated. The ships might be fitted with long-range anti-missile defence techniques.
While the general finances is £20bn (35bn Australian ), solely an a part of that can come to BAE Systems for the design and construct of the frigates.
BAE Systems chief govt Charles Woodburn stated: "I am proud that our world class anti-submarine warfare design and our approach to transferring technology and skills to the nations in which we work is expected to contribute to the development of an enduring world-class naval shipbuilding industry in Australia."
Italy's Fincantieri SpA and Spain's Navantia additionally bid for the contract.
'Deal of the century'
Defence analysts stated the deal represented a vital success for British naval exports.
"It is the deal of the century," stated Francis Tusa, editor of trade publication Defence Analysis.
The UK has had an "abysmal" export report for warship gross sales for the previous 5 a long time, he stated. But this represented "a massive sea-change".
Canada, which can also be planning to order warships later this 12 months, may be influenced by Australia's resolution, he additionally stated.
Selling the design abroad will assist unfold the prices of design and manufacturing of many parts of the frigate, doubtlessly bringing down the price of the Type 26 to the Royal Navy considerably, in line with Mr Tusa.
However, it was not solely BAE Systems who would profit from the deal, he stated.
Small and medium-sized UK corporations can be more likely to win orders for a number of the expertise required on the Australian ships.
Firms which can be already supplying the UK authorities's order of the Type 26 can be in a sturdy place to additionally provide Australian orders.