HII and Babcock International Group have announced a significant expansion of their strategic partnership through a new contract aimed at bolstering the production of Virginia-class submarines at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. This agreement marks a key move to build resiliency and increase throughput within the critical U.S. submarine industrial base.
A landmark aspect of this contract is the authorization for Babcock to construct complex submarine assemblies for Virginia-class Block VI fast-attack submarines at its facility in Rosyth, Scotland. This is the first Virginia-class outsourced contract specifically supporting NNS work to be awarded to Babcock. By leveraging Babcock’s established expertise and capacity in the U.K., the partnership directly addresses supply chain challenges, increasing the number of qualified suppliers capable of large-scale, high-quality submarine construction.
“This is a significant next step in delivering on our joint commitment to enhance both organizations’ capabilities, for the benefit of U.S. and U.K. programs,” said Chris Kastner, HII president and CEO. “Leveraging Babcock’s reach and expertise in the U.K. will reinforce our supplier base, strengthen submarine production in the U.S., and support the trilateral AUKUS partnership.”
The expanded collaboration builds upon a strategic agreement the companies signed in July 2023 to pursue naval and civil nuclear opportunities. Since then, joint efforts have spanned the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Notably, the teams have collaborated on the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) program, which works to accelerate the integration of Australian suppliers and products into the U.S. submarine supply chain, with future plans to include the U.K. Astute-class program.
Furthermore, this submarine construction initiative complements other advanced technology collaborations between HII and Babcock. Earlier this year at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate HII’s REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) with Babcock’s submarine Weapon Handling and Launch Systems. This joint effort is focused on developing a torpedo tube launch and recovery capability for UUVs, enhancing undersea capabilities for the Royal Navy and allied forces.
Together, these multifaceted collaborations underscore a deep, strategic alliance focused on strengthening national security, industrial capacity, and technological innovation across the AUKUS allies.
