Overview
- South Australia’s PMB Defence signed contracts worth more than A$34 million with BAE Systems for a design-phase review of nickel‑zinc batteries for SSN‑AUKUS submarines, adding 20 staff with further hiring expected.
- BAE will assess PMB’s battery data for potential integration, with production expected at PMB’s Adelaide facility if the technology is selected after the design phase.
- PMB’s nickel‑zinc chemistry is reported to offer roughly double the energy capacity of traditional lead‑acid batteries used for silent running and backup power on nuclear boats.
- BAE Systems, Raytheon Australia, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Thales signed an MoU to collaborate on a tri‑national combat system proposal that builds on the AN/BYG‑1 architecture used by US and Australian submarines.
- Program updates at Indo‑Pacific 2025 highlighted broader industrial uplift, including Australian supplier qualifications into US submarine supply chains and SSN‑AUKUS moving toward a preliminary design review expected in 2026.