A new program to qualify Australian businesses for the AUKUS submarine supply chain has sparked strong interest, with nearly 170 companies putting their hands up to supply components for the United States’ Virginia Class submarine program.
The Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) Program – a joint initiative of the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) and the US government – has already attracted dozens of local manufacturers keen to provide valves, castings, mechanical assemblies, pipe fittings, forgings and machined parts.
The scheme has been established through collaboration between ASC, General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII Newport News Shipbuilding, with support from ASA. Several Australian companies are now in the final stages of qualification and are expected to be competing for contracts within months.
The US Navy’s Virginia Class submarines are the world’s most advanced conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines. They will also form the first wave of nuclear-powered submarines acquired by the Royal Australian Navy under AUKUS.
ASC managing director and chief executive officer Stuart Whiley said the program offered an unprecedented opportunity for Australian suppliers.
“With 40 years’ experience building and sustaining Australia’s Collins Class submarines, ASC has built a trusted network of skilled suppliers that delivers mission-critical capability to the Royal Australian Navy,” he said.
“In doing so, we have helped grow sovereign skills, advanced technologies, and industrial resilience for the nation.”
The DIVQ program aims to fast-track Australian manufacturers into the AUKUS supply chain, with further opportunities expected to be listed on the Industry Capability Network as the initiative expands. Future waves will also extend to collaboration with the UK, allowing Australian firms to bid for contracts across all three AUKUS partner nations.
In March 2024, ASC was chosen as the federal government’s Sovereign Submarine Partner. Under that arrangement, ASC is responsible for sustaining the Collins Class fleet and, in partnership with BAE Systems, will co-build conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines at Osborne as part of the SSN-AUKUS program.
ASA said the initial success of DIVQ underlined the depth of industrial capability across Australia and the potential to scale participation into one of the nation’s most significant defence supply chains.
