Australia has selected Leidos’ Australian subsidiary Gibbs & Cox to lead the preliminary design of a contingency floating dry dock for the country’s future Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines. Planned for Western Australia, the facility will provide emergency and short-notice repair and maintenance capabilities when the submarines begin arriving in the 2030s under the AUKUS security partnership. The infrastructure is intended to complement planned depot-level maintenance later in the decade and could potentially support other AUKUS partners. The project forms part of Australia’s wider investment in HMAS Stirling and the Henderson Defence Precinct, aimed at strengthening sovereign submarine sustainment and shipbuilding capabilities. The facility will also have to meet Australia’s regulatory requirements and international nuclear safety obligations. Separately, Australian steelmaker Bisalloy has received its first order from General Dynamics Electric Boat for HY80 submarine-grade steel for US Navy Virginia-class submarines. The development represents the first use of Australian-made steel in the Virginia-class program and highlights the growing industrial integration between AUKUS partners.
