UDT 2026: AUKUS industry partners highlight collaboration hurdles

Industry partners working on AUKUS have outlined collaboration challenges with the programme, suggesting ways to improve interdisciplinary communication and overcome roadblocks.  

The comments came as speakers from BAE Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS), and Raytheon Australia outlined lessons from the programme at UDT 2026 on 15 April. 

The need to align on design, standards, and approaches are the primary challenges for the industry partners, Paul Beavis, Portfolio Director at BAE Systems, explained. 

These difficulties are compounded by the trilateral nature of the AUKUS programme. Spanning three different time zones, the programme has diverse supply chains and different contractors, turning simple collaboration into a major coordination challenge. 

One such example is the combat control systems (CSS) the AUKUS ‘SSN-A’ boats will use, with the initial UK design needing to meet Australia’s requirements.   

Another issue – raised by Beavis from BAE Systems – is the looming imminence of decisions that need to be made on the programme. In particular, these include “fundamental architecture”, and other considerations such as “weight, heat, power” and layout. 

These will require input from the each of the major industry players in the programme at each stage, as well as the UK and Australian authorities (buyers). 

Beavis therefore called for the industry partners to inject their influence and have key conversations on requirements now. 

Gollenberg agreed, stating that experts need to sit “in a laboratory together” so that they can identify exactly what is needed for the programme.  

He additionally highlighted the spirit of collaboration needed between each party going forward, stating that industry needs “to consider each other partners in this, not customers”.