HII Welcomes UK’s Westley Group to Strengthen AUKUS Submarine Supply Chain
UK-based Westley Group joins U.S. navy submarine supplier network via HII, reinforcing trilateral industrial integration under AUKUS
At the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney on 4 November 2025, HII (NYSE: HII) announced the inclusion of the United Kingdom-based Westley Group as a strategic supplier for the U.S. Navy’s submarine industrial base.
The move is framed as a key step in advancing the trilateral partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States under the AUKUS framework.
Westley Group, a specialist manufacturer of high-integrity metal castings, has been approved by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division to supply critical components for U.S. Navy platforms.
“Creating this new supplier … adds to the incremental volume required to construct more submarines to meet national security needs,” said Matt Mulherin Jr., vice president of supply-chain and strategic sourcing at Newport News Shipbuilding.
The partnership signals deeper industrial integration across the AUKUS nations, aligning with prior HII efforts in Australia.
For instance, earlier in 2025 HII was awarded a contract to execute the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot programme, aiming to qualify local Australian firms into the U.S. submarine supply chain.
By incorporating a UK-based supplier into the U.S. submarine supply chain, HII is reinforcing a globally connected supplier network capable of meeting the increased demand for nuclear-powered submarines among the AUKUS partners.
While much of the focus has been on Australia’s role in submarine construction, this development illustrates that industrial supply chains are becoming truly international and cooperative.
The announcement comes amid intensified activity under the AUKUS partnership’s Pillar 1 submarine initiative, which calls for nuclear-powered under-sea capabilities to enhance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
With Westley on board, HII is able to draw on proven casting expertise in the UK to meet stringent standards for submarine construction.
As the supply chain evolves, HII and its partner network—including Westley Group—are poised to support the multi-national submarine program that stretches across U.S., UK and Australian industrial ecosystems.
The move underlines how defence-industrial integration is no longer national but allied and underscores the shared commitment of the AUKUS members to pool industrial strength and strategic sovereignty.
The move is framed as a key step in advancing the trilateral partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States under the AUKUS framework.
Westley Group, a specialist manufacturer of high-integrity metal castings, has been approved by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division to supply critical components for U.S. Navy platforms.
“Creating this new supplier … adds to the incremental volume required to construct more submarines to meet national security needs,” said Matt Mulherin Jr., vice president of supply-chain and strategic sourcing at Newport News Shipbuilding.
The partnership signals deeper industrial integration across the AUKUS nations, aligning with prior HII efforts in Australia.
For instance, earlier in 2025 HII was awarded a contract to execute the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot programme, aiming to qualify local Australian firms into the U.S. submarine supply chain.
By incorporating a UK-based supplier into the U.S. submarine supply chain, HII is reinforcing a globally connected supplier network capable of meeting the increased demand for nuclear-powered submarines among the AUKUS partners.
While much of the focus has been on Australia’s role in submarine construction, this development illustrates that industrial supply chains are becoming truly international and cooperative.
The announcement comes amid intensified activity under the AUKUS partnership’s Pillar 1 submarine initiative, which calls for nuclear-powered under-sea capabilities to enhance deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
With Westley on board, HII is able to draw on proven casting expertise in the UK to meet stringent standards for submarine construction.
As the supply chain evolves, HII and its partner network—including Westley Group—are poised to support the multi-national submarine program that stretches across U.S., UK and Australian industrial ecosystems.
The move underlines how defence-industrial integration is no longer national but allied and underscores the shared commitment of the AUKUS members to pool industrial strength and strategic sovereignty.
