Leidos Australia to Design Floating Dry Dock for Nuclear Submarines

Leidos Australia will design a floating dry dock for nuclear-powered submarines to support the maintenance and operational readiness of Australia's future fleet. This project is a key component of the "optimal pathway" under the AUKUS Pillar One, aimed at ensuring mission readiness, continuity, and resilience, leveraging Leidos' decades of expertise in submarine and maritime engineering.

Under the oversight of the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), this floating dry dock will become a vital part of the nation's naval infrastructure for nuclear submarines, enabling underwater system inspection, maintenance, and repair. The design is highly complex due to its involvement with specialized nuclear safety and security requirements.

Leidos Gibbs & Cox Australia will lead the joint Australian-American design and development effort. Leveraging the extensive design capabilities that Leidos Gibbs & Cox has accumulated in the United States, along with the system development capabilities of Leidos Gibbs & Cox Australia, the team is expected to deliver the first phase of the project—the functional design—by mid-2027.

Paul Chase, CEO of Leidos Australia, stated that the readiness of Australia's nuclear submarines depends on reliable capabilities, strong collaboration, and sustainable infrastructure that supports long-term operations. Leidos' floating dry dock design will help enhance Australia's sovereign capability and reflects its commitment to supporting the critical path to success under AUKUS.