Manufacturing cooperation between Babcock International Group and Truflo Marine has been expanded under a new UK pilot initiative aimed at strengthening submarine sustainment supply chains across Australia and the United Kingdom, with a focus on industrial resilience in support of AUKUS requirements.
Announced at the Combined Naval Event 2026, the pilot will test how selected low-complexity submarine valve components can be manufactured at Truflo Marine’s Century Engineering facility in Adelaide, with engineering oversight, quality assurance, and validation provided in the UK over an 18-month period.
The work is intended to support future sustainment of the UK Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarine fleet while increasing integration of Australian manufacturing capability into allied supply chains.
According to Babcock, the initiative is designed to demonstrate how qualified Australian suppliers can be embedded within a broader submarine sustainment ecosystem spanning the UK and Australia, with the potential for Australian-manufactured components to be certified for future use in UK Royal Navy supply chains.
Babcock stated the programme builds on recent developments involving Century Engineering, which became the first Australian business to secure US export contracts through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification programme led by H&B Defence. The new pilot extends Century Engineering’s role to include participation in UK sustainment opportunities.
Babcock Director of Growth and Strategic Procurement, Nuclear, David Tytherleigh, said the approach combines manufacturing and engineering assurance across jurisdictions.
“By combining Australian manufacturing with UK engineering assurance, Babcock and Truflo Marine are supporting the development of a resilient and globally connected submarine sustainment ecosystem capable of supporting both current operational demands and future allied capability requirements,” he said.
Truflo Marine Managing Director Mike Semens-Flanagan said the collaboration highlights the potential for expanded regional capability.
“Through this collaboration with Babcock, we are demonstrating how Truflo Marine’s flow control expertise, combined with our expanding manufacturing capability in Australia, can support a more responsive and resilient submarine sustainment supply chain,” he said.
“By aligning proven UK engineering standards with Australian-based production, we are helping to develop in-region capability that can support vessels operating from Australia today, while contributing to the long-term industrial strength of the AUKUS enterprise.”
Babcock said the pilot supports broader AUKUS objectives of expanding allied supply chain capacity, developing regional industrial capability, and strengthening a more resilient submarine industrial base across the UK, Australia and the United States.
