Four leading defense companies have announced plans to form an AUKUS Combat Systems Collaborative Team, aiming to support Australia’s SSN-AUKUS conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines. The group—BAE Systems, Raytheon Australia, General Dynamics Mission Systems, and Thales—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 5. Their goal is to design and lay the groundwork for manufacturing and integrating combat systems for the SSN-AUKUS program in partnership with the governments of Australia and the United Kingdom.
The SSN-AUKUS submarines will be based on a next-generation UK design and include technology contributions from all three countries involved in the AUKUS partnership. This approach seeks to meet Australia’s long-term defense needs by combining expertise from each nation.
According to the companies, their collaboration brings together over 150 years of experience in submarine combat system design, integration, and delivery. They aim to reduce risks related to both program management and workforce development while speeding up delivery of new capabilities.
Under the MoU, the parties agreed to jointly develop a tri-national Combat System as a shared solution for both Australia and the UK. The system will build upon General Dynamics Mission Systems’ existing AN/BYG-1 combat control system, which is co-funded by the U.S. and Australia. This system already supports both nations’ naval forces by integrating tactical control, payload management, weapons control, and information assurance across several classes of submarines.
The team intends to maximize Australian involvement in designing and delivering these combat systems while facilitating skills transfer among AUKUS partners. This effort aims to strengthen Australian industry as it participates in building SSN-AUKUS submarines.
Craig Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems Australia said:
“This Memorandum of Understanding is another strategic step forward to developing the most effective and advanced combat system for SSN-AUKUS, simultaneously strengthening Australia’s operational sovereignty and industrial capability.
“By aligning with our industry and trilateral partners, this signing will accelerate and enhance combat system development that is interoperable by design, reaffirming our role as a trusted partner to the Commonwealth of Australia and Royal Australian Navy.”
Ohad Katz, Managing Director of Raytheon Australia added:
“As Australia’s sovereign submarine combat system partner, Raytheon Australia and our workforce bring more than 25 years of expertise in design, integration and sustainment, including upgrades and updates, of the Collins Class submarine combat system to this team, establishing the base for a truly sovereign capability ready to deliver the RAN’s most ambitious naval program.
“As the RAN moves to a multi-class submarine fleet, leveraging the existing workforce, with proven processes that sustain Collins will ensure continuity, confidence,and low-risk delivery.”
Laura Hooks from General Dynamics Mission Systems stated:
“We are excited to formalize a collaborative path forward as we work together to strengthen critical defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The MOU acknowledges that the team successfully delivering submarine combat system capability to the three nations via separate efforts today should be entrusted to sustainand integrate combat systems aboard Virginiaand AUKUS submarines in future ensuring continuity confidenceand low-risk delivery It sets a standardof teamworkthatwill allow us tomore efficiently explore future business opportunitiesin United States United KingdomandAustralia”
Steven Lockley at Thales UK commented:
“Success on international programmes such as AUKUS requires strong international partners in orderto deliver maximum customer valueandsustained capability Thalesis pleasedtocontinue itslong-term CombatSystems relationshipswith BAESandRaytheonAustraliaandlookforwardtoalsoworkingwithanewpartnerinGeneralDynamicsMissionSystems TogetherwewilldeliverahugelycapableandsustainableAUKUSCombatSystemmaximisingtheattributesofourcompaniesacrosstheAUKUScountries”
General Dynamics Mission Systems serves as prime contractor for multiple U.S. Navy programs involving submarine combat control systems such as AN/BYG-1; BAE Systems leads UK submarine fleet design; Thales supplies integrated sonar systems; Raytheon Australia acts as integrator for Royal Australian Navy platforms.
For further details about General Dynamics Mission Systems’ capabilities see https://gdmissionsystems.com/.