Amentum joint venture chosen for Australia’s nuclear submarine shipyard program

Australian Naval Infrastructure has selected a joint venture between Amentum and Laing O’Rourke as its Capability Partner to support delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine construction yard in South Australia.

Under a long-term contract, the partners will play a central role in developing the new shipyard at Osborne, north of Adelaide, where Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines will be built as part of the AUKUS trilateral agreement. “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,” said Mark Whitney, president of Amentum Energy & Environment. “We bring more than 60 years of global expertise in nuclear submarine programs, significant nuclear licensee experience, independent regulator exposure and a clear pathway for growing enduring Australian nuclear capability.”

The Capability Partner will provide nuclear-related program management, construction management and safety leadership within ANI’s Integrated Delivery Office. The partnership will work with ANI to coordinate work packages, support contractor engagement and manage interfaces across nuclear and non‑nuclear areas of the yard. “Our team will provide hands-on leadership across key areas of delivery, including governance, assurance, logistics, commissioning, digital engineering, supply chain quality, and integrating construction expertise into the design phase,” said Kim Katheklakis, Amentum Australia managing director.

The new construction yard is intended to enable Australia to build and sustain conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines for the first time. It will house advanced facilities for assembly, outfitting, testing and commissioning of the future SSN‑AUKUS fleet.

Program backers describe the project as critical to strengthening Australia’s long‑term national security, deepening defense industrial capability and creating thousands of highly skilled jobs in South Australia. As part of the AUKUS partnership with the United States and United Kingdom, the program is positioned to make Australia a key contributor to stability in the Indo‑Pacific region.

Amentum says it is expanding its Australian team—currently more than 1,000 people delivering engineering, program and project management services across defense and national security, cyber and digital, energy and environment, and critical infrastructure—to support the establishment of sovereign nuclear capability. The company’s stated scope spans construction of nuclear‑licensed facilities and nuclear‑powered submarines through to operations, decommissioning, disposal, cleanup and radioactive waste management.