VEEM has received two purchase orders from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding for cast parts for the US Navy’s Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarine program. They are the first orders placed with an Australian supplier through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) pilot program for the Virgina Class nucelear powered submarine program. Minister for Defence Industry the Hon Pat Conroy MP announced the orders at VEEM’s Canning Vale facility on 11 November, joined by Western Australian Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE the Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA and H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown AM.
The orders have a combined value of approximately A$0.8 million and follow more than 12 months of qualification and audit to meet the requirements of the US submarine supply chain. AUSSQ is managed by H&B Defence, a joint venture between HII and Babcock, on behalf of HII Australia and the Australian Submarine Agency. It gives Australian businesses a direct pathway into the US and UK submarine supply chains. The cast parts will be produced in VEEM’s Canning Vale foundry, Australia’s largest non-ferrous foundry, which the Ministers toured during the visit, watching a live pour.
H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown AM said: “VEEM has demonstrated the strength of Australia’s manufacturing industry and led the way for other businesses across Australia to qualify and compete to supply into the US and UK submarine industrial bases.”
VEEM Chairman Brad Miocevich said: “Securing these orders from HII to support the US Navy’s Virginia Class submarine program is a significant milestone for VEEM and demonstrates the role Australian manufacturers can play in this highly specialised defence supply chain. I see this as an important step towards our longer-term ambition of supplying AUKUS submarines built here in Australia.”
In a joint media release, Minister Sanderson said: “I’m proud to see WA operator VEEM become one of the first Australian businesses to manufacture components for the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines.”
VEEM thanks Minister Conroy, Minister Sanderson and the teams at H&B Defence, HII and the Australian Submarine Agency, and looks forward to building on this work as Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine industry develops.
Read the official media releases from H&B Defence and the Minister for Defence Industry below.
Minister for Defence Industry and WA Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Industries
🔗 Jobs boost for WA as company wins work on US Navy submarines (11 November 2026)
H&B Defence
🔗 AUSSQ qualified Australian manufacturer wins orders for US Navy nuclear-powered submarines (11 November 2026)
VEEM ASX announcement (20 October 2026)
🔗 VEEM first AUSSQ-qualified supplier in Australia to secure HII Virginia Class submarine orders
Photo credit, Department of Defence.
