Huntington Ingalls Industries and Babcock International Group have forged a strategic partnership aimed at advancing naval and civil nuclear decommissioning and construction projects across the UK and US.
The collaboration marks a milestone as both entities leverage their expertise to enhance capabilities and share best practices in these specialised sectors, HII said in a news release.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), HII and Babcock will initially focus on optimising existing nuclear decommissioning contracts for US ships and UK submarines.
This collaboration is expected to bolster operational efficiencies and skill development, benefiting both the US and UK programs.
The partnership extends beyond naval operations to include civil nuclear initiatives, including the design, fabrication, and construction of power plants and components in North America and the U.K.
Babcock’s involvement will capitalise on the capabilities of its subsidiary, Cavendish Nuclear, renowned for its leadership in the UK’s nuclear civil industry.
Chris Kastner, president and CEO of HII, highlighted the strategic significance of the agreement, stating, “As we expand our presence globally this is an important agreement to leverage more than 60 years of HII expertise in complex nuclear processes on behalf of civil and defence customers.”
He continued, “We are excited to explore with Babcock potentially promising opportunities for both companies.”
Meanwhile, David Lockwood, CEO of Babcock, emphasised the partnership’s role in advancing global capabilities, stating, “This collaboration supports our expanding global reach and capability.”
Lockwood noted, “We look forward to working with HII to realize the benefits that our collaboration can bring to the nuclear programs in the U.K., U.S. and beyond.”
In addition to naval and nuclear sectors, HII and Babcock will explore joint initiatives supporting the Australia – United Kingdom – United States (AUKUS) defence programs.
