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Australian company VEEM has secured its first purchase orders to supply specialised components for US Navy Virginia-class submarines.
The WA-based company will supply components to Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding, one of only two shipyards that construct Virginia-class submarines for the US Navy.
The initial purchase order, worth about $800,000, sees VEEM become one of the first Australian companies to transition from qualification into production within the US submarine industrial base.
They are the first orders placed with an Australian supplier through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot program for the Virgina Class nucelear powered submarine program.
Minister for Defence Industry the Hon Pat Conroy MP announced the orders at VEEM’s Canning Vale facility on 11 November, joined by Western Australian Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE the Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA and H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown AM.
“Securing these orders from HII to support the US Navy’s Virginia Class submarine program is a significant milestone for VEEM and demonstrates the role Australian manufacturers can play in this highly specialised defence supply chain,” according to VEEM chairman Brad Miocevich.
“I see this as an important step towards our longer-term ambition of supplying AUKUS submarines built here in Australia.”
For the last 38 years, VEEM has been supplying components for Australia’s Collins Class submarines and was the first Australian company qualified through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification Program (AUSSQ) to secure production orders from Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding for the Virginia-class submarine program.
The AUSSQ program demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to uplifting Australian companies to enter United States submarine supply chains, to strengthen Australia’s sovereign industrial capability and build the industrial base needed to support Australia's future nuclear-powered submarine program.
The announcement comes as Australia undertakes increasingly complex submarine maintenance activities at HMAS Stirling and prepares for the commencement of Submarine Rotational Force-West from late 2027, which will see the rotational presence of US and UK nuclear-powered submarines and personnel in Western Australia.
“This announcement shows that AUKUS is already creating tangible opportunities for Australian businesses, supporting highly skilled jobs for locals and delivering practical outcomes for Australian industry,” according to Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.
“Importantly, the integration of Aussie-made components into the Newport News Shipbuilding supply chain paves the way for further opportunities for local suppliers and potential to create more well paid and highly skilled jobs in Australia.
“Every contract secured by Australian industry helps build the sovereign industrial capability and workforce we need to deliver one of the greatest industrial endeavours in Australian history.”
Through AUSSQ, 56 Australian companies are in the qualification process, with 20 companies receiving Supplier Qualifications and expanding the pool of Australian businesses able to compete for opportunities within United States submarine supply chains.
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