The floating dry dock will provide contingency repair and maintenance capacity for Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. Canberra plans to have the capability available from the early 2030s, before depot-level submarine maintenance is required from the late 2030s.
The appointment advances a broader infrastructure program centered on HMAS Stirling and the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia. The government is developing the area to support sovereign shipbuilding and sustainment of Australian submarines and surface vessels.
Leidos Gibbs and Cox Australia will provide floating dry dock design services during the preliminary design phase. The government said the capability will allow Australia to undertake critical submarine repairs and maintenance when its future fleet enters service.
Canberra described the contingency dry dock as a pre-condition for receiving its first Virginia-class submarine. The facility will also provide contingency support for Australia’s AUKUS partners in the United States and United Kingdom.
The maintenance infrastructure will be developed under Australian regulatory processes and domestic requirements. The government said the program will also comply with Australia’s international obligations covering nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
The design work is backed by an initial A$12 billion government investment in the Defence Precinct at Henderson. Canberra said its wider investments in AUKUS and shipbuilding will support 10,000 direct jobs in Western Australia over the next two decades.
The project is also intended to establish domestic industrial capacity to sustain Australia’s future submarine fleet. The government said the infrastructure will support cooperation with the United States and United Kingdom across the Indo-Pacific.
“AUKUS is delivering the capabilities Australia needs to keep our nation safe,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said. “The contingency dry dock capability is a critical step in building a sovereign submarine sustainment system.”
“This investment ensures Australia will have the infrastructure, workforce and industrial capability required to support our future nuclear-powered submarines,” Marles said. The project forms part of Canberra’s wider effort to establish the infrastructure required for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine enterprise.
“AUKUS is happening right now,” Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said. “The development of infrastructure at Henderson will position Western Australia at the centre of our submarine sustainment enterprise.”
“This is another example of AUKUS delivering long-term industrial capability and highly skilled jobs for Australians,” Conroy said. The design appointment moves Australia closer to establishing the maintenance capacity required before its first Virginia-class submarine arrives.
