Australia has selected Leidos Australia’s Gibbs & Cox division to lead the preliminary design of a contingency floating dry dock for the country’s future Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines. The facility will be established in Western Australia as part of preparations for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capability under the AUKUS partnership with the United States and United Kingdom. The dry dock is expected to provide emergency and short-notice maintenance and repair services before submarines undergo planned depot-level maintenance later in their service lives. The project forms part of wider investments in HMAS Stirling and the Henderson Defence Precinct, aimed at expanding Australia’s sovereign submarine sustainment and shipbuilding infrastructure. The facility could eventually support other AUKUS partners while complying with Australia’s nuclear safety and regulatory requirements. In another AUKUS development, Australian steelmaker Bisalloy 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 Virginia program.
