Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) Pilot Program
What is AUSSQ?
The Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) Pilot Program is a national initiative, designed to streamline and accelerate the qualification of Australian suppliers into the US Submarine Industrial Base, in direct support of the AUKUS Pillar I Optimal Pathway.
Delivered by H&B Defence on behalf of the Australian Submarine Agency, the program identifies Australian businesses with the skills, products and services required to support the Virginia-class submarines at Newport News Shipbuilding in the United States.
Over its two-year duration, the AUSSQ Pilot Program enables suppliers to register for a range of Work Packages. Each participant is assessed by H&B Defence for capability in their chosen area of expertise, with the aim to qualify them to Newport News shipbuilding standards. This ensures Australian industry contribution to the delivery of the first three nuclear powered submarines under the AUKUS trilateral security partnership.
Program highlights
Since launching an Expression of Interest (EOI) for priority work packages in May 2025, H&B Defence has received more than 350
submissions from suppliers nationwide, eager to pursue export opportunities for critical components and services across multiple stages of the US submarine programs.
Throughout this assessment process, AUSSQ participants benefit from targeted mentoring, process improvement support, and direct engagement with international customers. Once qualified by our integrated team of nuclear program and quality assurance experts, suppliers become eligible to compete for contract opportunities at Newport News Shipbuilding.
So far, 24 businesses have joined the program across four priority areas of capability – Castings & Forgings, Precision
Machining, Air & Gas Flasks and Fabricated Components. Additionally, there are 10 businesses who have joined from the South Australian and Western Australian uplift pilots as part of their qualification efforts.
Current opportunities
As the Pilot Program expands, H&B Defence will identify additional Australian businesses with the capability to support existing and future work packages.
If shortlisted, our AUSSQ team will help suppliers through the onboarding lifecycle – including pre-assessment, assessment, qualification through corrective actions and provide guidance to suppliers on their journey in becoming an approved supplier in the Newport News Shipyard.
AUSSQ validations for additional work packages will continue to be rolled out over the coming 18 months. By 2026–27 the program is expected to expand into Composites, GRP, Furniture/Joinery and other related technologies.
