Global nuclear engineering company Assystem and Australia-based Shoal Group have signed an agreement to collaborate on AUKUS Pillar I, the three-nation effort to improve nuclear submarine capability and capacity, with the goal of strengthening Australia’s nuclear submarine supply chain and advancing sovereign capabilities in naval technologies and infrastructure.
The collaboration brings together Shoal’s expertise in systems thinking, modelling, simulation and analysis, and experience in Australia’s submarine industry, with Assystem’s global leadership in nuclear engineering and infrastructure delivery. Assystem is a leading engineering and project management partner to the defence sector, and its UK team will bring expertise in complex, safety-critical and nuclear environments to Shoal’s technical work.
In the UK, Assystem is a principal partner in the Capability Assured Strategic Partnership (CASP) with Rolls-Royce Submarines, supporting the UK’s nuclear submarine programme through engineering, digital and delivery capabilities aligned to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and AUKUS objectives. Assystem is also playing a significant role in the Ministry of Defence nuclear frameworks, including the Nuclear Technical Support Provider (NTSP) framework, providing specialist technical and infrastructure support to naval nuclear sites.
For almost two decades, Shoal has played an important role in supporting Australia’s submarine capability. This includes supporting the Royal Australian Navy in the definition of the Future Submarine Program (FSP) and providing Digital Engineering support to the design of the associated FSP Combat System, working closely with Australia’s Submarine builder and sustainer, ASC in delivering the COLLINS Class Submarine Life of Type Extension, and providing expertise to PMB Defence, a world-leading submarine battery designer and manufacturer, in the delivery of PMB’s UK nuclear submarine contract. Shoal is also supporting Australian companies to meet nuclear safety requirements under the new Australian Naval Nuclear Propulsion Safety Regulations.
Together, the companies will advance local knowledge transfer and provide tailored engineering solutions to enhance Australia’s in-market capacity for nuclear-powered submarine development and sustainment under the AUKUS framework.
Simon Barber, Assystem’s UK Managing Director, said: “This is an exciting collaboration that will bring Assystem’s mature nuclear defence expertise in the UK to the technical work being led by the Shoal Group. Assystem is committed to supporting the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar I, which will be vital to achieving the central mission of AUKUS to bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
“This agreement marks another milestone for Shoal in support of Australia’s strategic defence capability,” said Shaun Wilson, Shoal CEO and Founder. “Combining our strengths with Assystem’s global nuclear experience, we are committed to building a skilled and sustainable ecosystem to support AUKUS Pillar I.”
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