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Adelaide-based PMB Defence has secured a strategic contract paving the way for Australian-made battery technology to be integrated into the design of the AUKUS conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
PMB, a world leader in submarine battery systems, has long supplied the main storage batteries for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines, in service since 1996.
Now, through a partnership with BAE Systems in the United Kingdom, the company is advancing its next-generation nickel–zinc battery technology for potential use in the SSN-AUKUS submarine program, a trilateral project bringing together the industrial strengths and technologies of Australia, the UK and the US.
The contract, worth more than AU$34 million, will see PMB’s South Australian workforce expand further, with 20 new staff already hired and more jobs to come as production scales up. These additions build on the 450 jobs already created at BAE Systems and ASC through AUKUS-related work, reinforcing South Australia’s role as the heart of Australia’s future submarine enterprise.
If successful through the design phase, the advanced batteries will be manufactured at PMB’s Adelaide facility, supporting a sovereign, high-skilled workforce and embedding Australian innovation into one of the most complex and strategically vital defence programs in the world.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the partnership reflected the government’s determination to ensure Australian industry plays a central role in AUKUS.
“Australian industry is our greatest strategic asset. This contract not only strengthens our collaboration with the UK and US but also creates dozens of high-paying, high-skill jobs for South Australians. It’s another clear example of AUKUS delivering for local workers and businesses.”
The SSN-AUKUS submarines will be based on the UK’s next-generation design and incorporate cutting-edge technology from all three nations, including US propulsion systems, a common vertical launch system, and an integrated joint combat system. The new submarines will dramatically enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s capability, while deepening industrial cooperation across allied nations.
The deal follows close collaboration between the Australian Submarine Agency, PMB Defence, BAE Systems, and the UK Ministry of Defence, accelerating the integration of Australian-developed technology into UK and US submarine supply chains.
Minister Conroy said AUKUS represents a transformative opportunity for Australia’s defence industry, saying, “AUKUS is expected to create around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years. The Albanese government is committed to ensuring Australian companies are at the forefront of this multi-decade, multibillion-dollar endeavour.”
Through PMB’s leadership, Australian expertise in advanced energy systems is now set to play a pivotal role in powering the next generation of AUKUS submarines, a tangible demonstration of sovereign capability, industrial resilience and national ambition.
