News

Five South Australian businesses will participate in a new Supplier Capability Uplift Program facilitated by the United States’ leading shipbuilder HII.

HII’s Australian entity, HII Nuclear Australia Pty Ltd, selected participants McKechnie Iron Foundry, Century Engineering, Levett Engineering, H & E Parts International and MacTaggart Scott Australia based on their potential to meet specific supply chain requirements for major US defence projects – including the Virginia Class Submarine.

Through the program, each business will undergo a Supplier Technical Assessment and Validation (STAV) review to identify and address capability gaps.

Upon completion, they’ll be supported by the South Australian Government to address any shortfalls and become well-placed to compete for work on the Virginia Class Submarine and other global shipbuilding and sustainment opportunities.

Refining this local expertise will not only empower participating businesses to win work in the short-term, but bolster capability in the local supply chain – preparing the state to fulfil South Australian-based defence projects like the construction of the SSN-AUKUS conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines.

HII’s Supplier Capability Uplift Program is an outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the South Australian Government and HII in late 2023.

Parties agreed to embark on a cooperative working arrangement, leveraging HII’s international industry learnings to prepare South Australia for the major shipbuilding projects on the horizon.