The Australian government early this month announced a strategic contract setting up an industry partnership that will potentially see Australian battery technology used in the SSN-AUKUS submarine design.
The Australian-based PMB Defense is partnering with the United Kingdom’s BAE Systems in contracts worth over $34 million to enable potential integration of its advanced nickel zinc battery system into future nuclear-powered attack submarines, the government said on Nov. 4.
PMB also plans to supply battery technology for other U.K. Royal Navy submarines. The Australian government said the contracts between the companies have already led to PMB adding 20 staff to its South Australia workforce, with more expected as production scales up.
PMB already produces the main storage batteries in the diesel-electric Collins-class submarines. The U.K. and Australian Roval Navies will both share the same nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS submarine design, but be produced separately in both countries.
Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published a version of this story.