Australia Advances AUKUS Submarine Support Infrastructure With New Dry Dock PlanAustralia has selected Leidos Australia’s Gibbs & Cox to lead the preliminary design of a contingency floating dry dock for future Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership with the United States and United Kingdom.The planned facility in Western Australia will provide emergency and short-notice maintenance capabilities when the submarines begin arriving during the 2030s. It is intended to complement larger planned depot-level maintenance facilities later in the decade and could eventually support submarines operated by other AUKUS partners.The project forms part of Canberra’s broader investment in HMAS Stirling and the Henderson Defence Precinct, aimed at developing sovereign shipbuilding and submarine sustainment capabilities. The infrastructure will also need to meet Australia’s domestic regulatory requirements and international nuclear safety obligations.Separately, Australian steelmaker Bisalloy has received its first order from General Dynamics Electric Boat to supply HY80 submarine-grade steel for US Navy Virginia-class submarines. The order marks the first use of Australian-produced steel in the program and highlights growing industrial cooperation under AUKUS.
