US, Australia Sign Critical Minerals Agreement, Back Submarine Deal
U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical minerals agreement aimed at countering China on Monday at a meeting marked by Trump's jab at Australia's envoy to the United States over past criticism.China loomed large at the first White House summit between Trump and Albanese, with the U.S. president also backing a strategic nuclear-powered submarine deal with Australia to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific.While Trump and Albanese greeted each other warmly, the U.S. president expressed ire about past criticism of him by Australia's U.S.
Rolls-Royce Signs Skills Agreements in Support of AUKUS
Rolls-Royce has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with both Western and South Australian governments that outline a commitment to collaborate on workforce development, skills training, and critical technologies to support the growing defence sectors in each state.This marks a significant step forward in Australian preparations for the AUKUS submarine program which will provide the nation with their first conventionally armed nuclear navy.Under the agreements, both governments…
Fincantieri, PGZ Join Forces for Modernization of Polish Navy
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), Polish state-owned defense group, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-operate on the modernization of Polish Navy and explore opportunities in wider naval defense market.The MoU establishes a framework for strategic collaboration aimed at supporting the modernization of the Polish Navy, with a particular focus on the ORKA submarine acquisition program.Under the agreement, Fincantieri and PGZ will explore joint opportunities in the design…
Canada Selects Qualified Bidders for Supply of New Submarines
Joël Lightbound, Canada’s Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, and the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement), have announced that the Government of Canada has identified German company Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Korean company Hanwha Ocean as the two qualified suppliers for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).Delivery of the first Canadian Patrol Submarine is expected no later than 2035.The new submarine fleet will be deployable in the Arctic with extended range and endurance that will provide stealth…
Shipbuilding Powers General Dynamic Profit, Revenue
General Dynamics' second-quarter profit and revenue topped analyst estimates, driven by robust orders in its marine segment from Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine programs, boosting shares 5% in early trading.The defense company's nuclear-powered submarine-making marine systems segment produced 22.2% more revenue. The unit is now expected to generate 2025 revenue of $15.6 billion with a 7% margin.During the quarter, the Pentagon modified a submarine production contract awarded to the company's marine segment…
Hanwha Ocean Adds Financing Deal to Poland Submarine Sale Proposal
Hanwha Ocean has added a comprehensive financing deal to its proposal to sell Poland submarines, the South Korean shipbuilder said on Friday, as it battles rival European bidders.Poland is seeking to buy three submarines under its "Orka" programme as part of an expansion of its military to counter what it says is a growing threat from Russia following Moscow's 2022 invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.Polish media have reported that offers from fellow-NATO and European Union members Germany…
Babcock Secures Contract to Support Nuclear Submarine Defueling
Babcock International Group has been awarded a three-year contract to prepare for the first nuclear defueling of a decommissioned Trafalgar Class submarine in over 20 years. The operations will take place at Babcock’s Devonport facility in Plymouth, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s Submarine Dismantling Project.The £114 million ($155 million) contract from the Ministry of Defence will see Babcock working collaboratively with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) and leading industry partners to prepare for the defuel of four decommissioned submarines…
Executive Director of PEO UWS Stresses Importance of Submarines at NUWC Division Newport
During his visit to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport on May 19, Executive Director Mike McClatchey, a member of the Senior Executive Service, Program Executive Office, Undersea Warfare Systems (PEO UWS), emphasized the critical role the submarine platform and warfare center play in safeguarding our country.“The submarine is our nation’s vanguard, and it is the most important platform to strategic deterrence,” McClatchey said. “The submarine force and the undersea domain are what makes our adversaries say…
Israel Aerospace Industries to Sell Autonomous Submarines to Greek Navy
State-run Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said on Wednesday it signed a deal to sell its BlueWhale autonomous submarine system to the Greek Navy.IAI did not disclose financial details.BlueWhale is a large uncrewed underwater vehicle weighing 5.5 tons and can perform a wide range of covert maritime missions, including intelligence-gathering above the sea surface, submarine and underwater target detection, acoustic intelligence collection and searching for and detecting naval mines on the seabed, IAI said.It said that the autonomous submarine can perform a significant portion of a crewed subma
General Dynamics Electric Boat Awarded $12 Billion Contract Modification for Virginia-Class Submarines
General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a total of $12.4 billion in contract modifications for construction of two fiscal year 2024 Virginia-class submarines. Additionally, the award funds investments to improve productivity at the shipyards and workforce support as detailed in the Department of Defense contract award announcement. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $17.2 billion.General Dynamics Electric Boat designs, builds, repairs and modernizes nuclear submarines for the U.S.
HII Awarded Contract Modification for Construction of Two Additional Submarines
HII announced that the Virginia-class shipbuilding team, which includes the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division, has been awarded a contract modification in support of construction of two fiscal year 2024 Block V submarines.The contract modification, to NNS and teaming partner General Dynamics Electric Boat, authorizes construction of the 11th and 12th fast-attack submarines of the Block V contract.“We appreciate the teamwork that resulted in these critical national security assets being put under contract,” said Jason Ward, NNS vice president of submarine construction.
Thyssenkrupp, Fincantieri Team up for Submarines Project in Philippines
German naval conglomerate Thyssenkrupp and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri have signed an Industrial Cooperation Agreement as part of a broader strategic partnership to provide the Philippine’s Navy with advanced submarine capabilities solutions.As part of the Horizon III military modernization initiative, the Philippine Navy aims to enhance its archipelagic defense by acquiring cutting-edge weapon systems. In particular, the introduction of submarines would be a game-changer in securing territorial waters…
Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egypt Killing Six
Six foreigners were killed on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank off Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, the local governor's office told Reuters, without confirming the nationalities of the victims.The Russian consulate in Hurghada said the submarine, named "SINDBAD", had 45 Russian tourists on board in addition to crew members.The consulate said four people had died, but did not specify if they were Russian."According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada," the consulate said.The fate of several tourists was still be
General Dynamics Electric Boat Awarded $1 Billion Submarine Contract
General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $1 billion undefinitized contract modification allowing Electric Boat to purchase long lead time materials for Virginia Class Block VI submarines as detailed in a U.S. Department of Defense contract announcement.Virginia-class submarines are designed from the keel up for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.General Dynamics Electric…
Greece to Buy Four New Submarines
Greece will spend more than 25 billion euros in arms procurements by 2036, including new submarines, drones, satellites and fighter jets, under a 12-year plan to be submitted to parliament in the coming weeks, three officials with knowledge of the plan told Reuters.The move is part of Greece's bid to modernise its armed forces as it emerges from the 2009-18 debt crisis that led to years of austerity, and as it tries to keep pace with its historic rival Turkey.The two countries are at odds over sea boundaries…
EDGE and Fincantieri Deepen Partnership for Underwater Protection Solutions
EDGE and Fincantieri have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), deepening their cooperation through joint venture Maestral, which will be focused on the design, development and creation of unmanned systems for critical underwater infrastructure protection and seabed mapping, next-generation submarines, drone-carrier ships, and lightweight torpedoes.The MoU is based on both companies collaborating to develop underwater technologies, supporting the United Arab Emirates…
Philippines Wants to Add More Submarines
The Philippines is looking to buy more military hardware to modernize its arsenal, including additional BrahMos missiles from India and at least two submarines, the chief of the armed forces said.The Philippines is on the third phase of its modernisation program called "Horizons". It has earmarked $35 billion for the buildup over the next decade as it aims to counter China's military might in the region."It's a dream for us to get at least two submarines," Brawner said in a speech to leading business figures. "We are an archipelago.
Submarine Availability Support Hub Launched in Bristol
Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defence company, is creating more than 100 jobs at its newly-opened Submarine Availability Support Hub (SASH) in Bristol, as the company invests in supporting the development of nuclear skills and defence infrastructure in the South West of England.The facility brings together partners and experts from across the Defense Nuclear Enterprise including: Babcock, the Ministry of Defense, the Submarine Delivery Agency and the UK’s Royal Navy…
Submarine Closed Loop Cooling System Tested at US Navy Shipyard
Maxim Watermakers, a business unit of Fairbanks Morse Defense, has successfully completed qualification testing for a first-of-its-kind submarine maintenance closed loop cooling system for Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNS and IMF).This qualification is the first closed loop cooling system implementation for the U.S. Navy and Maxim’s initial application of this technology at naval facilities.The testing was funded by the Maritime Sustainment Technology and Innovation Consortium (MSTIC).
China New Zealand: Stay out of AUKUS
Chinese ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said that if New Zealand were to join security grouping AUKUS it would "inevitably" have negative consequences for the country's relationship with China.In a wide-ranging interview with state-owned Radio New Zealand released on Wednesday, Wang said that when deciding whether to join the grouping, China hoped that New Zealand would "take into account its own long-term best interests, the potential implications for regional security…
Babcock Hires KDC Veolia to Assist with UK’s Nuclear Submarine Dismantling
Babcock has awarded the recycling contract to KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services UK (KDCV) as part of U.K.’s demonstrator project to fully dismantle a nuclear-powered submarine Swiftsure.Babcock is working with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) and KDCV on the demonstrator dismantling project, applying a new and innovative methodology which will enable around 90% of the structure and components to be reused or recycled.This includes the pressure hull around the reactor compartment…
BAE Systems Ship Repair Begins Making Submarine Components
BAE Systems won a contract by General Dynamics Electric Boat for deck module fabrication in support of U.S. Navy submarine programs. The contract between the companies will cover the production and shipment of structural steel components for both Columbia- and Virginia-class submarines from BAE Systems’ facility in Jacksonville, Florida.BAE Systems currently provides support to the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base through various business operations, particularly the company’s Louisville, Kentucky facility.
Austal USA Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility for Submarine Modules
**Austal USA Breaks Ground on New Submarine Module Facility in Mobile, Alabama**Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA announced the commencement of construction on a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility dedicated to submarine modules, known as MMF3. Set to be operational by late 2026, this new building will significantly enhance the company’s capacity to support the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base (SIB).The facility will span 369,600 square feet and is specifically designed for the manufacturing of submarine modules.