Australian Submarine Agency

Name

Australian Submarine Agency

Legal name

Australian Submarine Agency

Website

https://asa.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Capability Management (Naval Submarine Programs)

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Naval Shipbuilding Program Management & Defense Contracting Support (IMAJABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military Submarine Manufacturing (Attack, Ballistic Missile, Special Mission) (IMAJAOAA), Submarine Propulsion Systems Manufacturing (Diesel-Electric, AIP, Nuclear Plant Components) (IMAJAOAF), Submarine Systems & Components (Pressure Hull, Ballast, Life Support) (IMABAKAL)

Keywords

• Defence submarine program
• Naval nuclear propulsion
• AUKUS capability acquisition
• Submarine sustainment services
• Submarine industrial workforce

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded by Australian Government through Defence portfolio. Total planned investment of $71-96 billion over decade from 2026-27 to 2035-36. $30 billion investment in Australia's industrial base over 30 years.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Australian Submarine Agency is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity, established 1 July 2023, that is responsible for safely and securely acquiring, constructing, delivering, technically governing, sustaining and disposing of Australia's conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine capability via the AUKUS partnership with the UK and US. It delivers this through the Virginia-class submarine acquisition pathway, the SSN-AUKUS Build Program (in Joint Venture with ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems), the Sustainment Program (with ASC Pty Ltd), and the Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West), supported by workforce development programs and defence-industry supplier qualification (DIVQ).

Product overview

The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) is a government agency established on 1 July 2023 to manage Australia's conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine capability through the AUKUS partnership. The agency oversees multiple interconnected programs including the SSN-AUKUS Build Program (partnered with ASC and BAE Systems), the Sustainment Program (with ASC), and the Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West) for visiting UK and US submarines. Supporting infrastructure includes the Osborne Submarine Construction Yard in South Australia, the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia, and the Skills and Training Academy. Workforce development products include the Nuclear Graduate Program, Defence Industry Pathways Program, Shipbuilding Employment Pathways, and Indigenous Pathways Program. The Submarine Discovery Centre in Rockingham WA provides public education on the nuclear-powered submarine program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nuclear-Powered Submarine Program Management The Australian Submarine Agency's primary capability: whole-of-life acquisition, construction, delivery, technical governance, sustainment, and disposal of Australia's conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia, via the AUKUS partnership with the United Kingdom and United States. Delivered to the Australian Defence Force, Australian Public Service, and Defence Industry Partners.
• SSN-AUKUS Build Program (ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems Joint Venture) Australia's partnership with ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems for the build of next-generation SSN-AUKUS submarines at Osborne, South Australia, with first SSN-AUKUS to be built in Australia from the late 2030s.
• Sustainment Program ASC Pty Ltd as Australia's Sovereign Submarine Partner for sustainment of conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines, including depot-level maintenance, workforce skilling, and supply chain integration.
• Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West) Rotational presence of UK and US nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling, Garden Island, Western Australia from 2027, helping Australia build operational capabilities ahead of sovereign SSN delivery.
• Nuclear Graduate Program A graduate program offering structured opportunities to contribute to the ASA with rotations through nuclear agencies and multiple disciplinary streams, targeting STEM, engineering, and nuclear technical graduates.
• Defence Industry Pathways Program A 12-month paid traineeship providing exposure to manufacturing, engineering, cyber security, computing, logistics, procurement and technical drawing fields for early-career workers.
• Shipbuilding Employment Pathways A four-year paid apprenticeship offering on-the-job experience in critical trades for the nuclear-powered submarine program, delivered with PEER training organisation.
• Skills and Training Academy A training campus near the Osborne Submarine Construction Yard providing qualifications needed by the nuclear-powered submarine industrial workforce from 2028.
• Nuclear STEM Cadetship An entry-level employment pathway for high-performing undergraduate students studying relevant STEM degrees with ongoing part-time APS employment.
• Indigenous Pathways Program Programs including the Indigenous Graduate Pathway (IGP) and Indigenous Apprenticeships Program (IAP) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people entering the submarine program workforce.
• Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) Program A government-led initiative that streamlines qualification of Australian businesses to supply products and services into trilateral (Australia, UK, US) submarine supply chains, including parts for Virginia-class submarines.
• Industry Front Door A dedicated resource to help potential suppliers navigate Defence-ready requirements, government programs, and supply chain opportunities for the nuclear-powered submarine program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 submarines by early 2040s
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and support.

• ASC Pty Ltd (ASC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2024ASC is Australia's sovereign submarine builder and sustainer with 35 years of experience. Selected as Australia's sovereign submarine build and sustainment partner. Partnership with BAE Systems through Joint Venture for SSN-AUKUS build. Unrivalled knowledge of Australian submarine operating conditions and existing skilled workforce.
• BAE SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2024UK's long-term nuclear-powered submarine design and build partner with over 60 years of nuclear submarine building experience. Brings critical know-how, intellectual property, and SSN-AUKUS design expertise. Forming Joint Venture with ASC for Australian submarine build.
• Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd (ANI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2024Appointed as Australian Government Business Enterprise to be ASA's design and delivery partner for the Submarine Construction Yard project at Osborne.
• AUKUS Partnership (Australia, UK, US)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Trilateral security partnership delivering the Optimal Pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines. Includes Virginia-class acquisition, SSN-AUKUS co-development, Submarine Rotational Force-West, and industrial base integration.
• General Dynamics Electric BoatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS shipbuilder conducting qualification activities in Australia through DIVQ Program for Australian companies to supply parts for Virginia-class submarines.
• Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News ShipbuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS shipbuilder conducting qualification activities in Australia through DIVQ Program for Australian companies to supply parts for Virginia-class submarines.
• South Australian GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for implementation of South Australia Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Report and Action Plans supporting submarine program.
• Western Australian GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for delivery of Henderson Defence Precinct and infrastructure supporting AUKUS in Western Australia.
• Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS)supportGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment agency supporting Team Defence Australia in preparing Australian company attendance at overseas trade shows and maximising international exposure.
• AustradesupportGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian Trade and Investment Commission supporting Team Defence Australia for international trade event participation.
• PEER (Training Organisation)supportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining organisation delivering Shipbuilding Employment Pathways apprenticeships and Defence Industry Pathways Program traineeships.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• General Dynamics Electric Boat: US prime contractor designing and building Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines. AUKUS partner running the DIVQ qualification program in Australia; central to ASA's Virginia-class acquisition pathway and supplier integration.
• Huntington Ingalls Industries / Newport News Shipbuilding: US shipbuilder co-producing Virginia-class submarines and a key AUKUS DIVQ program partner for qualifying Australian suppliers into the US submarine industrial base. Direct operational counterpart for ASA's supplier qualification pathway.
• Naval Group (France): French naval builder and submarine designer (Barracuda/Suffren class nuclear attack submarines, Scorpène conventional). Comparable as a major non-AUKUS nuclear submarine OEM whose industrial model and program management approach provide reference points for ASA.
• Defence Nuclear Organisation (UK) / Defence Equipment and Support: UK government body responsible for delivering and sustaining the Royal Navy's nuclear deterrent and submarine programs. Direct comparable to ASA as the partner nation's equivalent submarine program management entity, with deep nuclear propulsion expertise being transferred under AUKUS.
• US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA): US Navy command responsible for engineering, building, buying, and maintaining ships, submarines, and combat systems. Comparable as the AUKUS partner delivering Virginia-class technology and the institutional peer for submarine lifecycle management at scale.

Emerging players

• Hanwha Ocean (formerly DSME): South Korean shipbuilder pursuing submarine export markets (KSS-III, Jangbogo-III) and reportedly weighing SSN options. Emerging Indo-Pacific submarine competitor relevant for understanding regional industrial capacity and supply chain dynamics facing ASA.

Regional players

• ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems: German submarine builder (Type 212/214/209 family) with extensive conventional submarine export experience. Comparable as a Western-aligned submarine OEM whose industrial partnerships and export licensing models parallel aspects of ASA's industry engagement strategy.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Submarine programs): Japanese prime contractor building Soryu and Taigei class submarines for the JMSDF under strict technology control regimes. Relevant peer for nuclear-submarine-adjacent industrial base management in a non-AUKUS Indo-Pacific democracy considering nuclear submarine options.

Direct peers

• ASC Pty Ltd: Australia's sovereign submarine builder and sustainer, ASA's primary industry partner for both SSN-AUKUS construction and Collins-class/sustaining nuclear-powered submarines. Closely coupled as the JV partner executing ASA's build program.
• BAE Systems Submarines: UK-based designer and builder of nuclear-powered submarines (Astute and Dreadnought classes), ASA's Joint Venture partner for SSN-AUKUS design and IP. Highly comparable given parallel nuclear submarine mandate and shared AUKUS technology base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australiansubmarineagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Australian Submarine Agency