Govt announces $9.6 million sub supplier qualification pilot

US military shipbuilder HII’s local subsidiary has won an initial $9.6 million from the federal government to deliver a new Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification Pilot.

The program aims to identify and qualify local SMEs companies, eventually connecting them with international groups “who have a real and present need for their supplies.”  

Deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles said the program will expand opportunities for local industry, accelerating “the uptake of Australian suppliers and products” into the US submarine industrial base. 

“An Australian submarine industrial base capable of building and sustaining a persistent, potent and sovereign multi-class submarine capability is vital to the defence of Australia, and this Pilot initiative with HII Australia is another important step to this being achieved,” said Marles. 

The two-year program will delivered with H&B Defence – a HII and Babcock joint venture and has an option for extension “based on achievement”. 

The pilot will build on “the success of the recent partnership of HII Australia with both the South Australian Government and the Western Australian Government”, as well as complementing the federal government’s existing Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) Program. 

Picture: Virginia-class submarine Montana (credit Huntington Ingalls Industries)

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