Australian steel producer Bisalloy Steel has secured its first order to supply submarine-grade steel for the construction of United States Navy Virginia-class submarines, marking a milestone in Australia’s participation in the AUKUS defence partnership.
The company received a purchase order worth approximately USD 2 mln from US shipbuilder General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) to supply HY80 steel plate, which will be used in the production of Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.
The order follows Bisalloy’s successful qualification under the Australian Government’s Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) Program, which enables Australian manufacturers to meet the stringent structural steel standards required by the US Navy and participate in allied submarine supply chains.
The qualification process involved collaboration between Bisalloy, BlueScope Steel, the Australian Submarine Agency, General Dynamics Electric Boat and the US Navy. Under the arrangement, BlueScope manufactures the raw steel plate, while Bisalloy carries out the specialized processing and heat treatment required to produce HY80 submarine-grade steel.
The US has identified steel supply as a strategic priority as it expands its submarine industrial base. The order is expected to strengthen supply chain resilience across AUKUS while providing Australian manufacturers with experience that could support future contracts.
According to the Australian government, the project also supports efforts to expand domestic industrial capability and strengthen Australia’s long-term participation in the nuclear-powered submarine programme.
Founded in 1980, Bisalloy Steel Group is Australia’s only manufacturer of high-strength quenched and tempered (Q&T) steel plate. The company operates a production facility in Wollongong, New South Wales, with an annual capacity of more than 60,000 tons, supplying wear-resistant, structural and armour-grade steel products to the mining, construction and defence sectors. It also has joint venture manufacturing operations in China and distribution networks across Asia-Pacific and North America.