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Western Australia manufacturer Hofmann Engineering has secured approval to supply locally made components for the construction of United States Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers – a move seen as a crucial step towards entering the lucrative US submarine supply chain.
Western Australian precision manufacturer Hofmann Engineering has become the first local company to receive a request for quotation (RFQ) from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division in the United States, following its qualification through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) program.
HII is America’s largest naval shipbuilder and the sole supplier of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and Virginia Class submarines to the US Navy.
Perth-based Hofmann has been invited to submit costings for several components, potentially beginning supply as early as 2026, marking a major step towards integrating Australian industry into one of the most complex and tightly regulated defence supply chains in the world.
The milestone places Hofmann in prime position to qualify as a supplier for the Virginia Class attack submarines, the same boats Australia is set to acquire under the AUKUS security pact from 2032.
The RFQ follows Hofmann’s successful completion of months of rigorous technical assessments under the AUSSQ program, which was developed by H&B Defence in collaboration with the Australian Submarine Agency, HII, and the Western Australian government. The initiative began as a state-backed supplier uplift program before being rolled into the national AUSSQ framework.
Hofmann’s achievement comes as four other WA firms – Veem, Marine Technicians Australia, Dobbie, and Pressure Dynamics – progress through the AUSSQ process, with further RFQs expected. In total, more than a dozen Australian companies are currently being assessed to deliver critical casting, forging and precision machining capabilities in high demand across the US defence sector.
Additional work packages in areas such as air and gas flasks and fabricated parts are scheduled to begin qualification in late 2025, with the program expected to expand into composites, joinery and circuit cards by 2026–27.
H&B Defence managing director Tim Brown said Hofmann’s rapid success demonstrate both the strength of Australian industry and the value of the qualification framework.
“Securing the first request for quote through AUSSQ so quickly is a testament to Hofmann’s hard work and the success of the program being delivered by H&B Defence,” Brown said.
“AUSSQ’s mission is to identify and qualify businesses capable of supporting the early stages of the AUKUS endeavour by manufacturing components currently in short supply in the US. This supports the timely delivery of Virginia Class submarines while also building the expertise needed for future in-country submarine construction.”
Hofmann Engineering managing director Erich Hofmann said the RFQ reinforced global confidence in Australian precision manufacturing, saying, “This opportunity highlights the confidence being placed in Australian engineering and reflects our commitment to delivering world-class machining solutions for both the US Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.”
Hofmann said, “We remain committed to strengthening the Australia–US partnership by advancing sovereign capability, building industrial resilience and supporting undersea defence programs long into the future.”
Founded in a Perth backyard in 1969, Hofmann has grown into one of WA’s leading advanced manufacturers, supplying heavy engineering products across mining, transport and infrastructure, including locally produced Metronet railcars.
Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia said the breakthrough underscored WA’s potential to make defence a cornerstone of the state’s economy.
“I want to grow WA’s defence sector to become the state’s second largest industry after mining, creating jobs for generations and diversifying our economy beyond resources,” he said.
Minister Papalia added, “Our skilled local workforce has the expertise to accelerate Virginia Class submarine construction — benefiting both WA and our AUKUS allies.”
The Cook government last year committed $300,000 to HII to help establish the Supplier Capability Uplift Program in WA, which laid the foundation for the current AUSSQ system.
Supporters argue that AUKUS will turbocharge Australia’s advanced manufacturing sector and create thousands of jobs, while critics remain concerned about costs, workforce capacity and the challenges of building a sovereign nuclear capability.
For Hofmann, however, the path ahead is clear: proving that Australian industry can meet the highest global standards and ensuring Western Australia secures its place at the heart of one of the most ambitious defence programs in modern history.
