South Australian defence manufacturer Century Engineering has become the first Australian business to secure export contracts within the United States’ naval nuclear supply chain.

Century Engineering has signed agreements with HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia that will see the local company produce precision-engineered crank components for US aircraft carriers, which are among the most complex and regulated defence platforms in the world.

Production on the components is set to begin within weeks at Century’s Edinburgh North facility, which employs more than 190 skilled workers.

Century Engineering Managing Director David Heaslip said the company, which has built a reputation as a trusted manufacturer of critical components and equipment, was proud to contribute to the future of AUKUS-aligned capability and advanced manufacturing.

“This is a rewarding acknowledgement of our evolution from simple component manufacturer to suppling advanced manufacturing capability to US naval nuclear platforms,” Mr Heaslip said.

The company’s entry into the US naval nuclear supply chain follows successful qualification through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) Program.

The AUSSQ initiative, delivered by H&B Defence on behalf of HII and the Australian Submarine Agency, is designed to prepare Australian companies to meet the rigorous quality, safety and assurance requirements of nuclear-powered submarine programs and associated defence projects.

Century first entered the AUKUS pipeline through a pilot initiative jointly funded by HII and the South Australian Government.

Targeted South Australian Government grants supported Century’s progression to nuclear standards, highlighting the role of coordinated government and industry investment in building sovereign capability.

H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown described the contract as a turning point for Australian industry under AUKUS.

“Century Engineering’s success marks a real shift for Australian industry under AUKUS, from building capability to delivering into it.”

“This is more than a single contract; it shows Australian SMEs can meet the highest standards and take their place in trusted international defence supply chains, contributing at scale.”

The milestone comes amid increased government backing for the sector. The Australian Government recently announced a $21 million expansion of the AUSSQ Program, while the South Australian Government allocated $3.3 million in last year’s state budget to help local firms develop the capability required to enter global nuclear-powered submarine supply chains.