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H&B Defence has begun validation visits with the first group of Australian companies selected for the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) pilot program as part of the nation’s push to deliver Pillar 1 of the trilateral AUKUS agreement.
Twelve businesses from five states were chosen following a national expression of interest process. Over the coming months, they will undergo capability and compliance assessments to determine their readiness to export into the United States’ submarine and aircraft carrier supply chains.
The program will test whether suppliers’ manufacturing methods, processes and procedures meet the strict standards required for the sector.
The inaugural group of companies will focus on two priority areas, castings and forgings and precision machining, supporting the delivery of Virginia Class submarines built in the US. If qualified, they will be eligible to compete for contract opportunities at Newport News Shipbuilding.
H&B Defence managing director Tim Brown said the wide geographic spread of companies demonstrated the depth of industrial expertise across the nation, saying, “As we move through the audit and validation phase, our focus remains on ensuring each supplier meets the rigorous standards required to support the US submarine industrial base.”
Participating suppliers include two distinct streams, castings and forgings and precision machining, with suppliers including:
Castings and forgings:
- CQMS (Qld)
- AW Bell (Vic)
- AJAX (NSW)
- Castech (SA)
- Hycast (NSW)
- Intercast (SA)
Precision machining:
- Supashock (SA)
- Camco (WA)
- Stella (NSW)
- Ferra (Qld)
- Axiom (SA)
- Marand (Vic)
The cohort was drawn from hundreds of applicants, reflecting what H&B Defence described as the “remarkable capability” within Australia’s defence manufacturing sector.
Brown added, “By elevating local expertise to global standards, H&B Defence is building a sovereign, resilient trilateral supply chain that will drive job creation and economic growth while positioning Australia’s manufacturing base as a trusted partner in the AUKUS enterprise.”
The two-year pilot program will expand to cover additional areas, including air and gas flasks, fabricated parts, composites, glass-reinforced plastics, furniture and joinery and circuit cards. A further 10 businesses supported through state-funded programs in South Australia and Western Australia are also advancing their qualification efforts. First outcomes are expected later this year.
Industry participants welcomed the program’s potential, with AW Bell CEO Sam Bell saying the company was proud to be progressing through the qualification phase.
Bell said, “We look forward to continuing our contribution in strengthening Australia’s industrial base, which is vital to sovereign capability and long-term strategic resilience.”
Stella Engineering’s business development executive, Darren Bramley, said the program offered new opportunities for regional businesses, saying, “AUSSQ presents an exciting opportunity to diversify our operations and develop into a trusted, A-class partner to the defence industry.”
Established in 2024 as a joint venture between US shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries and UK-based Babcock, H&B Defence is positioned to support all steps of Australia’s pathway to sovereign nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS Pillar 1, including workforce development, infrastructure, sustainment and nuclear stewardship.
