BAE Systems Australia chief executive Craig Lockhart outlines progress on AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine

BAE Systems Australia chief Craig Lockhart, whose firm will build AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines in $368bn project, has issued a spirited defence of progress.

The chief of the firm behind the Adelaide-based construction of AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines in a $368bn project, has launched a spirited defence of progress in the face of uncertainty over Donald Trump’s agenda.

In an interview with The Advertiser, BAE Systems Australia chief executive Craig Lockhart attributed public questions about AUKUS to the unpredictable climate in the United States under President Trump.

Mr Lockhart, whose Adelaide-based firm a year ago was named joint nuclear-powered submarine builder, said he was assured the three nations continued to be “intent on increasing the capacity, resilience and strategic deterrence of this country through a nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarine program”.

Mr Lockhart said the project was “well on the way” and “good progress is being made”, despite being the most complex ever undertaken by Australia in terms of scale and technical complexity.

“We have accelerated and pivoted to the point where the US technical insertion package is now well understood, maturing in the design and, indeed, (there are) now embedded Australian partners within the design team,” he said.

“That design is rapidly maturing for transfer to Australia.”

BAE Systems Australia chief executive Craig Lockhart. Picture. James Elsby.

Mr Lockhart said the 2026 target to start work on submarine modules with early workforce training was on track.

Design for the Osborne shipyard was 30 per cent mature, he said, and more than 200 workers from BAE and joint submarine builder ASC were now sharing offices at Port Adelaide with the federal government’s Australian Submarine Agency.

Mr Lockhart said the Adelaide shipyard would apply production lessons from the US and BAE’s UK shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

“All three nations are looking at the acceleration of these submarine build programs. The US are looking at increasing their drumbeat to get more boats in the water quicker,” he said.

“We are working very closely with the US to adopt a similar build methodology and then apply that into a Barrow (shipyard) environment.

“The fact that Barrow start building the UK (AUKUS submarine) program ahead of us, that gives us the opportunity again, whilst we are designing and laying down our yard to optimise that process even further, because we have a greenfield site.”

Mr Lockhart said BAE was planning to take potential Australian supply chain partners to the global DSEI defence industry conference in London in September as preparation but also to potentially engage them with the UK submarine program.

Adam, Connor, Maddison, and Scott at Osborne. Picture: James Elsby

Three generations of one family have worked at Osborne Naval Shipyard: Adam, 35, his father Scott, 59, and his late father, Adam’s grandfather Jack.

Scott works at BAE and has been at Osborne for 31 years, while Adam manages about 17 ASC employees as fabrication team lead.

Asked about a shipbuilding future for his grandchildren, Maddison, 8, and Connor, 5, Scott says: “I’ve been in the trade, and I think with the opportunities here, like robotics and engineering, you never know. They could maybe go to uni, get an engineering degree, and end up here.

“There’s certainly going to be a lot of work here in South Australia. I think the future is looking bright for this shipyard for sure.”

Originally published as BAE Systems Australia chief executive Craig Lockhart outlines progress on AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine