Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding has given advice and technical input on inserting US technology into the SSN-AUKUS design, while design authority remains with the UK, according to defence minister Luke Pollard.
James MacCleary, the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, asked what role the American company plays in designing the submarines.
Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, replied: “Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) has provided some advice and technical input regarding US technology insertion into the SSN-AUKUS design. HII-NNS does not hold design authority for SSN-AUKUS, which remains with the UK.
The company’s contribution forms part of broader AUKUS efforts to strengthen tri-national collaboration, submarine enterprise capability and capacity across the UK, US and Australia.”
A US Foreign Military Sales notification reported in March set out a proposed sale to Britain of up to $1 billion in support for the programme, including technical assistance on AUKUS-specific vertical deployment tubes, common weapon launchers and US and UK embedded personnel.
The figure was a maximum estimated value, not a confirmed contract.
I remember just two months ago being told on here that HII was basically designing SSN AUKUS.
I pointed out that a £50 million contract on a program costing £40 billion means they had close to no input and this proves it.
No doubt just like with Astute I’ll need to listen to as**oles wittering on for the next three decades about how these are American designed boats.