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HII has hosted a delegation of Australian officials, led by Defence Minister Richard Marles, at their Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division in Virginia, which manufactures and designs nuclear-powered submarines for the US Navy.
“We are honoured Deputy Prime Minister Marles and the Australian delegation could see how our longstanding nuclear experience at NNS directly supports the AUKUS mission,” said Eric Chewning, HII’s executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy.
The visit was a show of support for the AUKUS partnership, with HII reaffirming its commitment to the agreement through continuing to launch efforts across the three nations to chart the best path towards equipping Australia with nuclear-powered submarines and advance collaboration on defence capabilities.
“Industrial integration of submarine and shipbuilding capabilities between the US, UK and Australia is a critical component of the AUKUS partnership, enabling aligned defence production, workforce development, and supply chain collaboration to support shared security objectives,” Chewning said.
HII’s Mission Technologies Global Security team is working with the Australian government to transfer key expertise to support AUKUS goals, including sharing experience in submarine sustainment, supply-chain management and workforce development programs.
“It was fantastic to see the US submarine industrial base on display at Newport News Shipbuilding, including the keel laying ceremony of Barb (SSN 804),” Minister Marles said.
“The Australian government is pleased to be working with HII, including through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) program to identify and qualify Australian businesses into the US supply chain.”
The AUSSQ seeks to streamline the qualification of Australian businesses to join the US submarine industrial base, with multiple Australian companies already having received requests for quotation from NNS for the supply of parts for nuclear shipbuilding programs.
