Newly formed defence company to support Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine procurement

US naval shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and UK defence technology company the Babcock International Group have formed a new joint venture and entity to accelerate the development of critical sovereign capability for the AUKUS conventional armed, nuclear-powered submarine program. H&B Defence will combine nuclear submarine and shipbuilding experience from Australia, the United Kingdom,z and the United States to support Australia's inaugural nuclear-powered submarine program under AUKUS.

H&B Defence has been established to support all steps of Australia's optimal pathway to sovereign nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS Pillar one – including workforce, nuclear infrastructure design and build, submarine defueling and decommissioning, nuclear waste, and future sustainment. The company, headquartered in Canberra, will work with the Australian government and key stakeholders from industry and academic sectors to develop a comprehensive program to promote and grow a skilled sovereign nuclear workforce in Australia.

Tim Brown has been appointed H&B Defence Managing Director. The company board is chaired by HII's President of the Nuclear and Environmental Services and HII Australia business lead, Michael Lempke and also includes Babcock Australasia CEO, Andrew Cridland.