A South Australian manufacturer has locked in a pivotal role in the AUKUS defence submarine program.

A strategic contract between SA’s PMB Defence and BAE Systems in the United Kingdom was announced by the Albanese Government last week, finalising the agreement for locally made batteries to be integrated into the AUKUS designs.

The deal is valued at over $34 million and is predicted to generate hundreds of local job opportunities, whilst simultaneously strengthening industrial collaborations between AUKUS partners.

PMB’s Adelaide base had already welcomed twenty additional staff, with more positions anticipated to become available following a recent surge in growing demand.

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These roles were in addition to the 450 already created at BAE and ASC through the broader AUKUS program.

The new batteries would be built at PMB’s Osborne facility, supporting a sovereign workforce, if they pass the design phase.

PMB Defence, headquartered in South Australia, would also set its sights on bolstering Australia’s contribution to the UK’s naval proficiency, supplying batteries for additional Royal Navy vessels.

BAE Systems was set to explore the use of PMB’s advanced nickel-zinc battery system in upcoming submarine constructions.

The SSN-AUKUS submarines would include propulsion systems, a common vertical launch system, conventional weapons, and a joint combat system, with technologies originating from Australia, the UK, and the US.

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the contract rewarded Australia’s forward-thinking mindset and the government’s commitment to providing skilled local employment vacancies.

“The contract for the AUKUS design will create dozens of new well-paid, high-skilled jobs for locals, on top of the hundreds at BAE and ASC that AUKUS has already delivered,” Conroy said.