H&B Defence welcomes yesterday’s announcement by the Australian government that it will partner with HII to facilitate extensive supply chain uplift activities across the country in support of the AUKUS tri-nation agreement.

The two-year Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification Pilot Program will accelerate the identification and qualification of Australian suppliers and products to meet the unique standards of the nuclear environment, so they can access the US Virginia class supply chain.

Qualification of small and medium enterprise (SME) will be executed and supported in-country by H&B Defence – a joint venture between Babcock Australasia and HII.

H&B Defence looks forward to supporting the nation’s inaugural nuclear-powered submarine program under AUKUS Pillar 1 – including workforce, nuclear infrastructure design and build, and future sustainment.

Quotes attributable to Tim Brown, Managing Director, H&B Defence

“H&B Defence welcomes the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Minister Pat Conroy. This initiative underpins Australia’s industrial mobilisation efforts and will greatly enhance the nation’s sovereign capability—uplifting its industrial base to support the nuclear-powered submarine programs of each of the AUKUS partners.”

“Qualifying Australian suppliers to operate within the US nuclear-powered submarine programs now will equip them with the appropriate level of accreditation to support Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.”

About H&B Defence

H&B Defence combines world-leading experience from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to support the development of critical sovereign capability for the once-in-a-generation AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program.

Formed in 2024 as a joint venture between HII and Babcock, H&B Defence can support all steps of Australia’s optimal pathway to sovereign nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS Pillar 1 – including workforce, nuclear infrastructure design and build, submarine defueling and decommissioning, nuclear waste and future sustainment – ensuring the nation is ready for Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarines and SSN-AUKUS.