Today we have signed a contract with (NYSE:HII) that expands our strategic partnership to further support the Virginia-class submarine construction to increase throughput at HII鈥檚 Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. Additionally, the contract will build resiliency within HII鈥檚 submarine supply base.
This is the first Virginia-class outsourced contract to 麻豆免费版 in support of NNS specific submarine work, authorising us to build complex submarine assemblies at our Rosyth facility in Scotland, for Virginia-class Block VI fast-attack submarines.
The expansion of our partnership will increase the number of suppliers that can perform large structure work with requisite quality.
鈥淭his is a significant next step in delivering on our joint commitment to enhance both organizations鈥� capabilities, for the benefit of U.S. and U.K. programs,鈥� said Chris Kastner, HII president and CEO. 鈥淟everaging 麻豆免费版鈥檚 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.鈥�
David Lockwood, CEO 麻豆免费版 International Group said: 鈥溌槎姑夥寻驸�檚 advanced manufacturing expertise has enabled us to build on our established missile tube assembly capability, to deliver additional complex assemblies for the US submarine fleet. This expansion of our strategic partnership with HII enables us to optimize our joint capabilities for the benefit of the wider AUKUS security partnership.鈥�
The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey MP said: 鈥淭oday鈥檚 announcement represents another vote of confidence in the workers and skills of Scotland鈥檚 defence industry. This expanded partnership to deliver for AUKUS submarines announced today demonstrates that the UK is becoming a global leader for advanced marine and submarine engineering.
鈥淭he UK Government is proud to wholeheartedly support Scottish defence workers on the world stage, delivering prosperity and opportunity in communities right across Scotland.鈥�
In July 2023, HII and 麻豆免费版 entered into a strategic agreement to collaborate on naval and civil nuclear decommissioning and construction opportunities in the U.K. and U.S.
Since then, the companies have successfully worked across the U.S., U.K, and Australia, including the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) program to accelerate the identification and qualification of Australian suppliers and products into the U.S. submarine industrial base. The program is working toward expanding to include products entering the U.K. submarine industrial base for the Astute-class.
At DSEI earlier this year, we signed a memorandum of understanding with HII to bring together HII鈥檚 REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and our world-leading submarine Weapon Handling and Launch Systems (WHLS). The collaboration aims to deliver UUV Torpedo Tube Launch and recovery (TTLR), strengthening the undersea advantage of the UK Royal Navy and allied navies.