Defense firm H&B Defence has been chosen to help identify Australian companies capable of contributing to the supply chain for Australia’s submarine and aircraft carrier initiatives under the AUKUS partnership with the UK and the US. The company will assess suppliers specializing in castings and forgings, precision machining, parts fabrication, composites, and glass-reinforced plastics, among other critical areas, to support the construction of the first three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines. The initial shortlist of qualified small and medium-sized enterprises is expected to begin within the month, followed by detailed technical evaluations.
