The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) has entrusted Lockheed Martin with a critical component for the country’s future nuclear-powered submarine fleet: an Australian-owned, independently operable Combat Systems Integration (CSI) capability for Virginia-class submarines. Signed under the AUKUS partnership, the agreement is valued at 26.5 million Australian dollars over a two-year period.
While it may appear on paper to be a technical integration contract, it is in fact part of Australia’s broader effort to break a dependency that has persisted for decades. Having relied heavily on US and allied expertise for submarine combat systems until now, Canberra is working to build its own engineering capacity in this domain.
How Will the Knowledge Transfer Work?
Under the contract, Australian engineers will work alongside US-based Virginia-class submarine specialists. The objective is not merely to contribute to an existing project, but to lay the foundations for a sustainable, fully indigenous integration capability for the future fleet.
Devon Rodgers, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin’s Submarine Mission Systems, offered the following assessment: “Australia is building a sovereign undersea capability that will serve its national security for decades to come. We are proud to support the technical foundation of Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines by applying our extensive combat system integration expertise to the AUKUS alliance.”
Local Players to be Included in the Supply Chain
Another dimension of the agreement is the industrial base. Lockheed Martin and the ASA will jointly analyse Australia’s supply chain requirements for Virginia-class combat system integration. The aim is to integrate both existing and new local suppliers into the global supply chain and deepen industrial collaborations.
The tangible employment impact is already on its way: more than 20 new CSI engineers will be hired for the initial work beginning in Western Australia. This will further expand Lockheed Martin’s workforce of over 470 specialists in naval combat systems and integrated air and missile defence.
Jeremy King, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, highlighted the strategic dimension of the agreement: “Combat systems integration is the cornerstone of delivering a highly advanced, secure, and operationally dominant submarine fleet. This partnership will enhance our ability to operate seamlessly with our allies, deepen AUKUS industrial base cooperation, and contribute to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region.”
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Source: C4Defence- Lockheed Martin
