HII Deepens Partnership with Babcock International Group in Support of Virginia-Class Submarine Construction

Core Points - HII and Babcock International Group have signed a contract to enhance their strategic partnership, focusing on Virginia-class submarine construction at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division [1][2] - This contract marks the first outsourced agreement for Virginia-class submarines, allowing Babcock to manufacture complex submarine assemblies in Scotland for Block VI fast-attack submarines [2] - The partnership aims to improve supplier capabilities and production resilience, benefiting both U.S. and U.K. defense programs [3][6] Company Overview - HII is a leading global defense provider, recognized as the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., with a workforce of 44,000 and a history of over 135 years in advancing national security [10][11] - Babcock International Group specializes in defense solutions, focusing on technology integration, engineering, and infrastructure management to enhance defense capabilities globally [11] Strategic Collaboration - The partnership will leverage Babcock's manufacturing expertise to optimize capabilities for the AUKUS security partnership, which includes the U.S., U.K., and Australia [6][3] - Previous collaborations have included initiatives like the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification program, aimed at integrating Australian suppliers into the U.S. submarine industrial base [7] - A memorandum of understanding was signed to combine HII's unmanned underwater vehicles with Babcock's submarine weapon systems, enhancing the operational capabilities of allied navies [8]