H&B Defence rapidly mobilises staff to support AUSSQ delivery

H&B Defence is rapidly mobilising the nuclear expertise of its joint venture partners, HII and Babcock, to ensure Australian suppliers are AUKUS-ready. Just weeks after securing a contract to deliver the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) Pilot Program, H&B Defence has seconded several HII subject-matter experts from the United States and engaged top-tier technical specialists from Babcock Australasia to bolster contract-support capacity. The integrated team of  experienced nuclear program and quality assurance personnel will work in lockstep to conduct audits, technical assessments and compliance checks across selected Australian suppliers. Together, they’ll pinpoint corrective actions and guide companies on their journey to becoming approved suppliers within the Newport News Shipyard, positioning them to compete for opportunities in the Virginia-class submarine build program in the US. This capability build is a core element of the AUSSQ Pilot Program, which seeks to forge new pathways for local businesses within the US branch of the AUKUS ecosystem. Since being appointed to deliver the AUSSQ Program in May, H&B Defence has released an Expression of Interest (EOI) for seven priority Work Packages—manufacturing focus areas deemed critical to driving Australia’s submarine ambitions forward and progressing the AUKUS endeavour. H&B Defence will leverage an in-depth local knowledge of Australian supplier capabilities and safety standards, along with direct insight into Newport News Shipyard’s stringent nuclear requirements, to select and fast-track the first cohort of qualified suppliers. These two streams of oversight ensures H&B Defence is not only accelerating compliance but is strategically positioning Australia’s defence industry as a critical contributor to the AUKUS alliance. Tim Brown, Managing Director, H&B Defence, said: “Rapidly deploying our validation team underscores H&B Defence’s commitment to laser-focused delivery and helps ensure Australian suppliers are nuclear-ready without delay. H&B Defence uniquely brings together two global leaders in nuclear-powered submarine operations to deliver expertise that accelerates sovereign capability development for the AUKUS program. By embedding expert teams on the ground and creating critical reach-back into Newport News, we’re seamlessly transferring knowledge, streamlining efficiencies and qualifying suppliers to meet both national and international standards for the Virginia-class supply chain.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]