HII hosted an Australian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) facility this week, as work continues across the United States, United Kingdom and Australia under the AUKUS security partnership.
The visit came as the three nations progress plans to provide Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and strengthen cooperation on related advanced capabilities.
Marles said the delegation was able to see elements of the U.S. submarine industrial base firsthand, including the keel-laying ceremony for the Virginia-class attack submarine Barb (SSN 804).
“It was fantastic to see the U.S. submarine industrial base on display at Newport News Shipbuilding,” Marles said. “The Australian Government is pleased to be working with HII, including through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification program to identify and qualify Australian businesses into the U.S. supply chain.”
During the visit, Australian officials met with HII executives, viewed facilities involved in building Virginia-class submarines, and observed work on the mid-life overhaul of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). They were also briefed on HII’s workforce development initiatives, which form part of broader AUKUS industrial-base cooperation.
Eric Chewning, HII’s executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy, said the visit demonstrated how U.S. nuclear-powered submarine programs intersect with AUKUS goals. “Industrial integration of submarine and shipbuilding capabilities between the U.S., U.K., and Australia is a critical component of the AUKUS partnership,” he said, highlighting the need for aligned production, workforce development and supply-chain collaboration.
HII’s Mission Technologies division is working with the Australian Government on matters including sustainment planning, supply-chain development and workforce training for Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine capability. The company is a founding member of the AUKUS Workforce Alliance, which aims to build the skills required to support the multi-decade program.
HII is also delivering the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) pilot program, which is designed to accelerate the process of identifying and certifying Australian suppliers for the U.S. submarine industrial base. Several Australian companies have already received requests for quotation for components used in nuclear shipbuilding programs.
The visit follows ongoing trilateral AUKUS engagement as all three countries move toward detailed planning and implementation phases in preparation for Australia’s acquisition and operation of nuclear-powered submarines in the coming decades.
