iscover
Huntington Ingalls Industries has hosted members of the United Kingdom House of Commons defence committee at its Newport News Shipbuilding division in the United States as progress on AUKUS continues to surge.
The visit supported the trilateral Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership, which aims to provide Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and to deepen collaboration on advanced defence capabilities.
“The committee were delighted to visit the HII yard and see the skill and endeavour on display,” said Tan Dhesi, chair of the House of Commons defence committee. “The AUKUS agreement is a vital tool for the strategic advantage of all three countries, and the committee is pleased to support it through our recently launched inquiry, ensuring it achieves its maximum potential.”
During the visit, committee members met with company leaders and toured facilities involved in constructing Virginia Class nuclear-powered attack submarines. They also visited the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School, which showcased Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) expertise in workforce development.
“We greatly appreciate the defence committee’s engagement and the opportunity to showcase how HII’s decades of expertise directly support AUKUS objectives,” said Michael Lempke, president of HII Mission Technologies’ Global Security group and head of HII’s Australian and UK operations.
“From building nuclear-powered submarines to strengthening industrial capacity across the US, UK and Australia, our efforts align closely with the trilateral vision. These discussions are crucial for fostering collaboration and driving the innovation that underpins AUKUS.”
A key element of the AUKUS partnership is the integration of submarine and shipbuilding capabilities across the three nations. This cooperation will enable aligned defence production, workforce development and supply chain collaboration to meet shared security goals.
Newport News Shipbuilding is one of only two shipyards in the US capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines for the US Navy. HII is a founding member of the AUKUS Workforce Alliance, which is dedicated to developing a skilled workforce to support Australia’s sovereign nuclear-powered submarine capability.
The company was also awarded a contract for the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot program, which aims to fast-track the identification and qualification of Australian suppliers and products for the US submarine industrial base.
