ASC, BAE Systems named as Australia’s submarine partners

Australia’s submarine company ASC Pty Ltd (ASC), has been selected as the Australian Government’s Sovereign Submarine Partner to sustain and jointly-build the nation’s nuclear-powered submarines. The announcement recognises ASC’s over-35-year experience and expertise as the original builder, and ongoing sustainer of the Collins Class submarine fleet. ASC has demonstrated its unrivalled capability in Australian submarine construction, combat systems integration, testing, commissioning and certification on the Collins Class program. ASC has successfully established and developed ‘green field’ submarine construction and sustainment capability through growing and retaining a highly skilled workforce; and developing and managing a comprehensive domestic and international supply chain. Today, ASC holds the highest concentration of submarine expertise in the nation and it is well positioned to deliver on the Australian Government’s nuclear-submarine program requirements. As the Australian Government’s Sovereign Submarine Sustainment Partner, ASC will sustain the nation’s nuclear-powered submarines in Australia, including visiting US and UK submarines, Australia’s sovereign Virginia Class submarines, and Australia’s SSNAUKUS submarines which will be built at Osborne in South Australia. GROTON, Conn. (Dec. 18, 2022) The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS South Dakota (SSN 790) transits the Thames River during a homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joshua Karsten) In the near term, ASC will provide sustainment for visiting US Virginia Class and UK submarines at Garden Island, Western Australia. This work will commence with a rotational presence of US and UK nuclear-powered submarines. In the interim, ASC personnel will undergo Virginia Class sustainment training, including on-the-job training deployments to the Pearl Harbor shipyard in Hawaii from late 2024. As Australia acquires its sovereign Virginia Class submarines, ASC will integrate Virginia Class sustainment with its existing Collins Class submarine sustainment program to deliver consistent submarine availability to the Royal Australian Navy. ASC will also be responsible for sustaining the SSN AUKUS submarines, including their short-term, medium-term and deep-cycle maintenance. ASC and BAE Systems have been selected as the Sovereign Submarine Build Partners and will collaborate to form an incorporated joint venture to construct the SSN-AUKUS submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. Work on the first submarine is scheduled to be underway before the end of this decade, with delivery to the Royal Australian Navy from the early 2040s. The collaboration between ASC and BAE Systems will be integral to the success of the nuclear-powered submarine program and will ensure that Australia establishes a strong sovereign submarine building capability for the future. ASC looks forward to working with BAE Systems to deliver this history making program. ASC will establish new company entities and a physical presence in both the UK and the US to facilitate its AUKUS partner collaborations. The nuclear-powered submarine program will be the biggest industrial undertaking Australia has ever embarked upon, both in scale and technical complexity. Accordingly, there will be many opportunities for prospective Australian suppliers and skilled employees to become involved in the program. ASC looks forward to working with its current and future supply chain partners, and the Australian workforce to execute these programs. Potential suppliers and appropriately skilled workers who aspire to participate in the nuclear-powered submarine program can register their interest at: asc.com.au/aukus Bruce Carter, chairman of ASC, said, “The decision to select ASC as a Sovereign Submarine Partner assures Australia’s sovereign submarine capability for generations to come. ASC has proven over its 35-year+ history that it has the capability to establish a shipyard, assemble a skilled workforce, develop a robust sovereign supply chain, and build an entirely new class of submarine – the Collins Class, our first-ever Australian-built submarine. ASC has the skills, knowledge and experience to replicate that feat within the nuclear-powered submarine program.” Stuart Whiley,, Managing Director and CEO of ASC, said, “This decision marks the beginning of an exciting new era for our company, and ASC is immensely proud and honoured that the Australian Government has entrusted us with this significant responsibility to contribute to the nation’s security. When the Collins class program was launched in the 1980s, there were detractors who said Australian industry could not complete such an ambitious program; they argued there were not enough workers with the necessary skills. But within the organisation, there was a high level of confidence about our ability to complete the task; we had a sense of enthusiasm and optimism, and a strong resolve to succeed. History shows that ASC successfully grew a skilled workforce to build and maintain an asset as complex and unique as the Collins Class submarine fleet. We are confident that we can do it again with nuclear-powered submarines. As Australia embarks on the most significant phase in its shipbuilding history, it’s time to rekindle the enthusiasm and optimism that accompanied the initial Collins Class build. I encourage young people and businesses to seize the opportunities presented by the nation’s new nuclear-powered submarine program.” Government statement on decision Today’s announcement of Australia’s sovereign submarine build and sustainment partners demonstrates the Albanese Government’s focus on maximising Australian industry involvement and jobs in the build and sustainment of Australia’s next generation conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines, the government said in a statement following the announcement. A strong defence industry is critical to providing the deterrence our strategic circumstances demand. This is a whole-of-nation undertaking that will see around 20,000 jobs created across Australia, with unprecedented opportunities for Australian industry at home and abroad with our AUKUS partners. It is the opportunity to build a Future Made in Australia, by Australians, with record investments in defence, skills, jobs and infrastructure. Industry The continued development of our industry and workforce is not just important for Australia, but is also pivotal for building more robust and resilient supply chains for all AUKUS partners. This is a key element and strength of the AUKUS trilateral partnership. The Albanese Government will continue collaboration with AUKUS partners and industry, including ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems to develop Australian supply chains and facilitate industry participation in the United Kingdom and United States supply chains. Part of this coordination is the development of an efficient vendor qualification process. To this end, in January the Defence Industry Vendor Qualification Program was launched. With the assistance of AUKUS partners, the program is reducing barriers and streamlining process as we accelerate the entry of Australian products into UK and US supply chains. Once qualified, Australian companies will be well-positioned to contribute to international supply chains, working with UK and US industrial partners. In its initial wave, the program is working with 26 companies to qualify supplies across four product families to meet US supply chain requirements. The next wave will expand the program to qualify suppliers into both the US and UK supply chains and will commence in mid-2024. Workforce Today, we are pleased to announce new initiatives through the Skills and Training Academy to develop Australia’s workforce to build and sustain our nuclear-powered submarines.  These pilot programs will be delivered in close consultation with Australia’s Sovereign Submarine Build Partner, Sovereign Submarine Sustainment Partner and the shipbuilding industry and include: Non-Destructive Testing Traineeships to grow the testing technician workforce. Development of Australia’s welding and fabrication pipeline, including: The Welding Aptitude Testing Initiative, providing entry-level workers and mid-career skilled workers opportunities to test their skills and explore welding careers in shipbuilding. A welding bridging initiative for new entrants, existing workers and advanced apprentices in adjacent industries to uplift their skills to fill welding roles in shipbuilding and the nuclear-powered submarine program. International placements for a ‘train the trainer’ pilot. Opportunities for Australia’s VET teacher workforce to conduct short-term placements in the US to enable them to build an understanding of AUKUS trilateral training requirements and methods, and support students with understanding nuclear-powered submarine career pathways. The Defence Industry Pathways Program will also expand to include pathways into the nuclear-powered submarine program. Through an international placements program under the Skills and Training Academy, Australian trainers will be placed within the US nuclear-powered submarine training system to learn skills to bring back to Australia.  In order to support the building of the workforce in support of Submarine Rotational Force‑West, this will include personnel from the South Metropolitan TAFE in Western Australia. International Placements Australia is working closely with our AUKUS partners to build the pathways for international placements as part of the upskilling of Australia’s domestic industrial workforce.  Following the recent passage by the United States of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), Australian industry has benefited from an easing of restrictions that has enabled unprecedented training opportunities in US shipyards, which will enhance the skills and qualifications of Australian workers Partnering with US and UK industry will be an important element of our sovereign build and sustainment partners growing the specialist skills and capacity required to build and sustain nuclear-powered submarines, leveraging their decades of expertise. AUKUS partners are committed to ensuring that all activities to build Australia’s future submarine workforce are undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the highest standards for nuclear non-proliferation. All work by Australian personnel in the UK and US will remain consistent with Australia’s domestic and international legal obligations, including with respect to nuclear non-proliferation. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said, “The announcement of the Sovereign Submarine Build and Sustainment Partners is opening up more avenues for Australian industry and jobs. What AUKUS is doing is allowing Australian industry to further invest here, but there are opportunities also opening up with our UK and US partners. Be it the build partnership with ASC and BAE Systems or the recent passing of the 2024 National Defence Authorization Act, there are now multiple new avenues and opportunities for Australian industry, which will expand the defence industrial base across all three countries – and realise the historic opportunities the pathway envisioned when we announced it last year.” Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said, “The importance of this announcement cannot be overstated. It heralds unprecedented levels of scientific, technological and industrial collaboration that will see Australian industry contributing to the combined industrial bases of all three AUKUS partners. It is particularly significant that the first work undertaken by Australian industry in relation to the build and sustainment program will be for our AUKUS partners, underscoring the immense opportunities for Australian industry and workers. This is a critical step that underscores the Albanese Government’s commitment to maximising opportunities for Australian industry and creating jobs and ensures construction of Australia’s first SSN‑AUKUS submarine can begin in Australia before the end of this decade.” The Western Australian government said it welcomes the Australian government’s decision to appoint the ASC as the prime contractor responsible for the delivery of AUKUS submarine sustainment and maintenance services. The announcement reaffirms WA’s key position in the AUKUS security partnership. ASC has delivered sustainment and maintenance works in Western Australia for over three decades in support of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarine fleet. This includes the Collins Class mid-cycle docking works conducted at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson. Existing Collins Class sustainment by the ASC employs approximately 600 Western Australians already and is supported by approximately 150 small and medium enterprises. This announcement will provide certainty in long-term employment opportunities for Western Australians for decades to come. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]