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Nuclear engineering company Assystem and Australia-based Shoal Group have signed an agreement to collaborate on AUKUS Pillar 1 to strengthen Australia’s nuclear submarine supply chain and advance sovereign capabilities in naval technologies and infrastructure.
The collaboration brings together Shoal’s expertise in systems thinking, modelling, simulation and analysis, and experience in Australia’s submarine industry, with Assystem’s global leadership in nuclear engineering and infrastructure delivery.
Assystem is a leading engineering and project management partner to the defence sector and its UK team will bring expertise in complex, safety-critical and nuclear environments to Shoal’s technical work.
In the UK, Assystem is a principal partner in the Capability Assured Strategic Partnership with Rolls-Royce Submarines, supporting the UK’s nuclear submarine program through engineering, digital and delivery capabilities aligned to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and AUKUS objectives. Assystem is also playing a significant role in the Ministry of Defence nuclear frameworks, including the Nuclear Technical Support Provider framework, providing specialist technical and infrastructure support to naval nuclear sites.
“This is an exciting collaboration that will bring Assystem’s mature nuclear defence expertise in the UK to the technical work being led by the Shoal Group,” according to Assystem’s UK managing director, Simon Barber.
“Assystem is committed to supporting the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar 1, which will be vital to achieving the central mission of AUKUS to bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
For almost two decades, Shoal has played an important role in supporting Australia’s submarine capability. This includes supporting the Royal Australian Navy in the definition of the Future Submarine Program and providing digital engineering support to the design of the associated FSP Combat System, working closely with Australia’s submarine builder and sustainer, ASC, in delivering the Collins Class Submarine life of type extension, and providing expertise to PMB Defence, a world-leading submarine battery designer and manufacturer, in the delivery of PMB’s UK nuclear submarine contract.
Shoal is also supporting Australian companies to meet nuclear safety requirements under the new Australian Naval Nuclear Propulsion Safety Regulations.
“This agreement marks another milestone for Shoal in support of Australia’s strategic defence capability,” according to Shoal chief executive officer and founder Shaun Wilson.
“Combining our strengths with Assystem’s global nuclear experience, we are committed to building a skilled and sustainable ecosystem to support AUKUS Pillar 1.”
Together, the companies will advance local knowledge transfer and provide tailored engineering solutions to enhance Australia’s in-market capacity for nuclear-powered submarine development and sustainment under the AUKUS framework.
Both organisations share a commitment to building resilient, future-focused systems and this partnership reflects aligned values in contributing to Australia’s strategic and sustainable development.
