How Moog can support the AUKUS partnership?
AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States. The objectives are to uphold peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, deter regional threats, and accelerate technology development for the purpose of national defence.
Under AUKUS, Australia will acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and obtain the knowledge and infrastructure to maintain Virginia-class submarines in Australia.
We sat down with Bryan O’Connor, Managing Director of Moog Australia & Asia-Pacific to discuss Moog capabilities in the region.
What capabilities does Moog have in Australia that could support AUKUS?
O’Connor: Moog has been in Australia for over 45 years, and our manufacturing facilities have grown to encompass 27,000 square feet of lean manufacturing layout. Our facilities were purpose-built for design and series production of cutting-edge defence systems that provide overmatch capability to the warfighter.
Image Credit: Dr. Ernest Gunasekara-Rockwell
Moog is committed to “equipping those who defend freedom”. In our Australia Operations, this means we are laser focused on providing best-in-class capability to the Australian Defence Forces and deployed forces of key partners such as the U.S. and UK.
We produce turreted weapon systems, missile control actuation systems, and weapon stores management systems. We also provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for Moog and third-party articles used by Defence forces. Our facilities are government accredited and highly secured - which means we can handle export controlled and sensitive information for the AUKUS partnership.
What is the impact from AUKUS on industry and how can Moog Naval Systems contribute with products/technology/capability?
According to Salter, “the AUKUS deal is a major opportunity for Moog to continue to provide the solutions we already do with submarine designs and features as well as future opportunities similar to other projects we have worked on as a company. The first opportunity for Moog falls under our Total Support Defense Sustainment Services. We currently provide products and sustainment services to the VA class submarines within the U.S. With AUKUS we are provided an opportunity to leverage our existing footprint in Australia and the UK to be a part of the forward deployed sustainment challenge of keeping the VA class long term ready operating out of Australia.”
The next step in the AUKUS deal that presents an opportunity to Moog is continuing to leverage our footprint in Australia and partnership with the Australian government to remain on these submarines, states Salter. “With the development of SSN-AUKUS happening simultaneously with the development of SSN-X, we have a great opportunity to showcase that we produce reliable and quiet actuators and motion control products, along with our current success stories.”
The final opportunity of the AUKUS deal, according to Salter, comes as a bigger opportunity for Moog with this phase of the deal have a more broad, less submarine focus, approach.
Image Credit: BAE Systems
What future opportunities does this provide Moog with?
“Moog has a big opportunity with SSN-X and SSN-AUKUS to leverage what we do and push the U.S., UK, and Australia into features that have been deemed as ‘risky’. We must consider, is this the right time to leverage electro-hydrostatic, to get the Navy to get off a centralized hydraulic system, especially for applications like control surfaces” mentions Salter. Concluding, Salter finds inspiration in Moog’s aircraft business: “We also have the opportunity to leverage what we’ve done on military and commercial aircraft, like stick to tail controls, and provide the same types of systems for submarines”.
Interested in speaking with Moog? Contact us at defense@moog.com
Tim Salter
- Business Development Manager - Moog Defense
- Hobbies: Master’s swimming, cycling, skiing, home improvement, and fishing. Tim was an Eagle Scout from East Aurora and is serving as Assistant Scoutmaster.