More than 100 Australian suppliers gathered in Perth this week for H&B Defence’s inaugural engagement forum, where they gained practical insights on how to join the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) program, meet allied nuclear standards, and position for long-term export success.
Delivered by H&B Defence on behalf of the Australian Submarine Agency, AUSSQ is a structured qualification framework enabling Australian businesses to meet US and UK nuclear-grade requirements, with the aim of reciprocal recognition across allied submarine programs.
Since AUSSQ launched, more than 350 individual Expressions of Interest have been received by the H&B Defence team, with the inaugural 12 businesses now progressing through qualification for foundational capabilities Casting & Forgings and Precision Machining. Additional validation packages are due later this year.
The supplier forum doubled as a strategic call to action, with senior defence and industry leaders including Kate van Hilst, Rohan Green, Linda Dawson, and CDRE Daniel Sutherland urging the expansion of Australia’s industrial base to support AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine delivery and sustainment.
H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown said:
“This session guided suppliers through the AUSSQ validation process and how we can support their growth. AUSSQ is a long-term opportunity tied to Australia’s sovereign defence goals. It provides suppliers with an entry point into US nuclear programs, compliance and technical guidance, grant funding support, export potential and crucially, SSN-A readiness.”