Amentum is expanding its role in allied nuclear defense programs through new agreements in Australia and the U.K. The company will support the development of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine construction yard and provide engineering services under Babcock International Group’s five-year framework, strengthening its position across critical nuclear, marine, and defense infrastructure programs.
How Is Amentum Supporting Australia’s Nuclear Submarine Program?
Under a long-term contract, a joint venture between Amentum and Laing O’Rourke will work within the Australian Naval Infrastructure’s Integrated Delivery Office to support the delivery of the new shipyard in Osborne, South Australia, where Australia plans to build conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS trilateral partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom.
As the capability partner, the JV will provide nuclear-related program management, construction management and safety leadership. Its responsibilities will include governance, assurance, logistics, commissioning, digital engineering, supply chain quality and integration of construction expertise into the design phase.
The team will also coordinate work packages, support contractor engagement and manage interfaces between nuclear and non-nuclear areas of the construction yard.
“Amentum has the opportunity to be part of a once-in-a-generation national endeavor that will shape Australia’s sovereign nuclear capability for decades,” Mark Whitney, president of Amentum Energy & Environment.
Whitney said Amentum will contribute more than six decades of global nuclear submarine program experience, nuclear licensee expertise and experience working with independent regulators.
The Osborne construction yard is intended to provide the facilities required to assemble, outfit, test and commission Australia’s future SSN-AUKUS submarine fleet. The project is also expected to support the expansion of Australia’s defense industrial base and create skilled employment opportunities in South Australia.
What New Role Will Amentum Play in UK Defense Programs?
Separately, Amentum has joined a five-year engineering services framework established by Babcock International Group to provide engineering support across nuclear, marine, land, aviation and mission systems for the UK Armed Forces.
For Amentum, the agreement builds on decades of infrastructure support at Babcock-operated sites, including Devonport Royal Dockyard, His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde and Rosyth Royal Dockyard.
“We are looking forward to supporting the delivery of programmes vital to the UK’s safety and security in the years ahead, deploying our proven experience of modernizing the UK’s naval bases, dockyards and defence systems, including specialized technical validation for critical infrastructure such as docks, berths and shiplifts for the maintenance of Astute and Dreadnought-class submarines, and for the wider Royal Navy fleet,” Loren Jones, senior vice president and head of Amentum’s Energy & Environment-International business.
The framework is designed to strengthen long-term relationships with key suppliers while providing Babcock with access to specialized engineering capabilities across multiple defense programs.
