Defence industry AUKUS essentials – by Michael Slattery

The UK government has awarded £3.95 billion to BAE Systems to further design and engineer the UK’s and potentially Australia’s next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, SSN-AUKUS. With critical decisions being made on sourcing Michael Slattery looks at the difficulties faced by Australian industry to have a meaningful role in the programme. The latest AUKUS contract for…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among @AuManufacturing’s readers, September 18 – 22, 2023

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 5) Another battery metals factory lost offshore, more to come While Australia talks the big talk about being a critical minerals and battery metals superpower, backed by the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, Australian metals companies continue to…

AML3D wins contract to 3D print metal parts for US Navy submarines

AML3D has won a contract to develop and test 3D printing copper-nickel (Cu-Ni) components for the US Navy’s submarine program. The contract was signed with BlueForge Alliance, a neutral integrator that supports the strengthening and sustainment of the US Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base through new technologies. Testing will run parallel with the recently extended Nickel-Aluminium-Bronze…

AML3D wins US submarine 3D print contract

Additive manufacturing machinery and technology company AML3D has won a $2 million contract to 3D print a metal replacement component used in US Navy submarines. The breakthrough contract is for a high demand non safety critical (NSC) component that is no longer available from traditional manufacturers, creating an opportunity for the company in the US…

K-TIG’s big break into nuclear submarine welding field

Rapid welding technology manufacturer K-TIG’s welding processes have been selected as a potential alternative to conventional gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) of pipe joints for the US nuclear submarine construction programme. K-TIG’s Keyhole TIG / GTAW welding technology, originally developed by CSIRO, has been selected for trials by the US’s prime contractor and lead design…

AUKUS is supposed to allow for robust technology sharing. The US will need to change its onerous laws first

By Lauren Sanders, The University of Queensland The AUKUS partnership between Australia, the US and the UK isn’t just about nuclear-propelled submarines. It also includes an information exchange agreement related to a number of new advanced technologies. These include cyber capabilities, electronic warfare, quantum technology, hypersonics, artificial intelligence and autonomous military capabilities. Although the partners…