VA – The former Australian prime minister and the current ambassador to US, Kevin Rudd visited the Huntington Ingals Industries (HII) in Virginia where the new batch of nuclear powered submarines are being built for Australia. The visit, which took place on July 14, 2023, also included the presence of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven, and Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with NNS leadership and tour the shipyard facilities involved in the construction of Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

This visit comes as HII reaffirms its commitment to support the trilateral partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS), which was announced in March. The partnership aims to provide Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, and HII is actively engaged in the process to bolster collective undersea capacity and mission capability.

NNS President Jennifer Boykin expressed her honor at hosting Ambassador Rudd and Sen. Kaine, showcasing the shipyard's top-notch workforce and its ability to handle the complex process of nuclear submarine construction and shipbuilding.

Sen. Kaine expressed his pride in Virginia's leading role in building Virginia-class submarines, emphasizing that the hard work of shipbuilders strengthens national security and boosts the economy. He highlighted how the AUKUS agreement will further enhance Virginia's critical shipbuilding leadership, strengthen alliances, and promote security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ambassador Rudd also shared his appreciation for the opportunity to witness the expertise of the United States Navy and American shipbuilders. He emphasized the significance of the U.S. Navy's knowledge and experience, which will prove invaluable to Australia as it develops its own sovereign submarine industrial base and enhances the resilience of the allied submarine supply chain.

As one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy, HII is well-prepared to leverage its expertise in nuclear shipbuilding and defense technologies, maintenance and sustainment, workforce and supply chain development, and its presence in Canberra, Australia, to support the AUKUS partnership. The AUKUS initiative represents a substantial step in delivering a submarine capability and fostering a broader partnership on advanced capabilities with Australia.