Lockheed Martin to build sovereign Virginia-class submarine combat systems capability in Australia

The agreement, awarded to Lockheed Martin Australia in its role as the designated Virginia-class Submarine Combat System Integration Strategic Partner, will lay the foundations for the Australian workforce, infrastructure, technical expertise and industrial base required to support the fleet throughout its operational life.

The initiative represents another significant step in the development of Australia’s sovereign nuclear-powered submarine enterprise, with combat systems integration expected to be critical to maintaining and upgrading the sophisticated sensors, weapons, communications and combat management systems fitted to the Virginia-class fleet.

Under the agreement, Lockheed Martin Australia will work alongside the Australian Submarine Agency and its strategic sustainment partner to establish a long-term SSN combat systems integration capability.

Australian Submarine Agency Head of Virginia Rear Admiral David Mann, AM, RAN, said establishing a domestic combat systems integration capability would be critical to supporting Australia’s future submarine fleet, saying, “Combat system integration is critical to the capability and effectiveness of our future submarine fleet.”

The program will encompass the development of infrastructure, engineering skills, training programs, technology-transfer mechanisms and industrial partnerships, while establishing the workforce required to update, upgrade, maintain and integrate the combat systems aboard Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.

RADM Mann added, “This partnership will help grow Australia’s skilled workforce, strengthen sovereign industry capability, and create new opportunities for Australian businesses. Together, we are building the expertise needed to support and sustain this nationally significant capability for decades to come.”

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For Lockheed Martin Australia, the program will draw on the company’s existing experience in complex maritime combat systems, while establishing a dedicated Australian capability focused specifically on the Virginia-class submarine.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Jeremy King said the contract marked an important milestone for Australia’s future submarine enterprise, “Combat systems integration is fundamental to delivering a highly advanced, secure and operationally dominant submarine fleet.”

King said added, “Lockheed Martin Australia brings decades of combat systems integration expertise to this partnership, and we are deeply honoured to support the Australian Submarine Agency. This national endeavour builds the workforce and sovereign capability that will underpin Australia’s future submarine enterprise.”

The initial phase of the program is expected to create more than 20 new combat systems integration engineering positions in Western Australia during its first year.

The new roles will add to Lockheed Martin Australia’s existing workforce of more than 470 personnel working across maritime combat systems and integrated air and missile defence.

The company expects the CSI workforce to expand as Australian industry assumes an increasing role in supporting US Navy nuclear-powered submarines operating from HMAS Stirling as part of Submarine Rotational Force-West.

The rotational presence of US Navy Virginia-class submarines in Western Australia will provide Australia with valuable experience in operating, maintaining and sustaining nuclear-powered submarines before the Commonwealth begins operating its own SSNs.

In order to deliver the capability in country, Lockheed Martin will initially deploy Virginia-class submarine subject matter experts from the US to support the capability uplift of the Australian workforce, with the specialists working alongside local engineers to accelerate the development of the required skills and expertise.

The approach is designed to provide Australian personnel with both the technical knowledge required to integrate complex submarine combat systems and the practical understanding of why those systems are designed, configured and operated in particular ways.

Over time, the objective will be for Australia to develop the sovereign expertise required to establish, enhance and sustain its own Virginia-class combat systems integration capability across the operational life of the fleet.

The contract will also see Lockheed Martin Australia and the Australian Submarine Agency undertake a comprehensive analysis of the Australian industrial base and supply chain requirements associated with the Virginia-class combat system.

This analysis will help to identify opportunities for existing Australian defence companies, as well as new suppliers, to contribute to the Virginia-class supply chain. This could provide Australian industry with opportunities to participate not only in supporting submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy, but potentially within the broader US-Australian Virginia-class industrial ecosystem.

For Australia, developing these industrial connections will be an important component of the broader AUKUS effort to establish a sustainable nuclear-powered submarine capability while strengthening interoperability and industrial integration with the United States and United Kingdom.

King said the development of a sovereign CSI capability would ultimately strengthen Australia's ability to operate alongside its allies, explaining, “Building Australia’s sovereign combat system integration capability is vital to our future submarine enterprise.”

The new CSI capability will therefore form one component of the much broader industrial, workforce and infrastructure ecosystem being established around Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.

“This partnership will strengthen our ability to operate seamlessly with allies and deepen the Australia-US industrial base collaboration while contributing to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific,” King added.

With US Navy submarines already expected to operate from Western Australia under Submarine Rotational Force-West, and Australia's first Virginia-class submarines scheduled to enter Australian service as part of the AUKUS pathway, the establishment of sovereign combat systems expertise provides an important bridge between Australia's current conventional submarine capability and its future nuclear-powered fleet.

Stephen Kuper

Author

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

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