The Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) Program has expanded by $14 million, opening the door for more Australian businesses to qualify for high‑priority work within the United States Maritime Industrial Base under AUKUS.
Funded by the Australian Submarine Agency, the expansion will broaden the range of Australian suppliers able to participate in the program, strengthening Australia’s contribution to the construction and sustainment of nuclear‑powered submarines alongside its AUKUS partners.
H&B Defence will engage an additional 18 Australian businesses for the next tranche, with expertise in composites, glass‑reinforced plastics, furniture and joinery, and other technology domains critical to submarine production.
As part of this process, H&B Defence will shortly commence site visits to shortlisted suppliers, with each business undergoing detailed audits to benchmark capability, quality systems and readiness against United States Navy standards.
H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown said the expansion reflects both the national momentum behind the program and the capability emerging across the country.
“Each new tranche expands Australia’s role in the AUKUS industrial base and gives more Australian businesses a clear pathway into long‑term, high‑value submarine work,” Mr Brown said.
“This is about building sovereign industrial strength, enabling Australian suppliers to compete at the highest international standards and contribute meaningfully to nuclear‑powered submarine construction and sustainment, both at home and with our partners.”
The newly introduced work packages build on AUSSQ’s earlier focus on advanced manufacturing and create export opportunities in areas of high priority for the US. Together, they broaden the program’s technical footprint and provide additional pathways for Australian businesses to secure new work, scale their businesses and step into a global market with long‑term demand.
Thirteen Australian suppliers are already fully qualified to participate in HII’s Newport News Shipyard enterprise, with more than a dozen others progressing through capability assessments, process improvements and direct engagement with US customers on priority work packages.