The Australian Government has awarded initial Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) contracts to Australian manufacturers, marking progress in connecting local businesses with the submarine supply chains of the United States and United Kingdom under the AUKUS agreement.
Four Australian businesses—HIFraser, Mack Valves, Bale Defence, and STAUFF Corporation—have been awarded contracts to manufacture sample US Navy-standard valves and pipe fittings as part of the qualification process.
The DIVQ Program, designed to qualify Australian businesses to supply products and services to the AUKUS submarine industrial base, is set to bolster high-skilled jobs across the country, including in regional areas.
The initiative is managed by the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) in collaboration with AUKUS partners to streamline processes and support vendor approval.
“This qualification program is critical to delivering on AUKUS but also demonstrates how AUKUS can deliver for Australians and local businesses by providing opportunities for growth and jobs,” said the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon Pat Conroy MP.
These contracts represent a crucial step for these companies to gain approval as vendors within the US submarine industrial base.
Once qualified, the businesses will be eligible to manufacture and supply components for platforms like the Virginia-class submarines.
HIFraser, a company with operations across Australia and 135 employees, will produce 15 valves and pipe fittings for qualification.
“It helps to fill the gaps within the supply chains of our AUKUS partners, giving greater strength and resilience to these supply chains,” Conroy added.
Mack Valves, with a workforce of 33, is set to manufacture the same number of valves.
Bale Defence, employing 44 people in Port Macquarie, and STAUFF Corporation, with 92 employees spread across multiple locations, will focus on pipe fittings.
The contracts not only provide an avenue for Australian businesses to prove their manufacturing capabilities but also support their approval as part of the US submarine industrial base.
The program is expected to enhance Australia’s submarine industrial base while strengthening the collective resilience of the AUKUS supply chain.
“It also contributes to the development of Australian businesses ahead of the build and sustainment of our own conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines,” Conroy said.
For more information on participating in the DIVQ Program, businesses are encouraged to register their interest through the ICN Gateway.
