Shoal + Assystem
Strengthening Australia’s nuclear submarine enterprise under AUKUS Pillar I
Shoal Group and global nuclear engineering leader Assystem have joined forces to support the delivery of AUKUS Pillar I. The collaboration combines Shoal’s expertise in systems thinking, digital engineering, modelling, simulation and analysis, and deep experience in Australia’s submarine enterprise, with Assystem’s decades of nuclear engineering leadership within the United Kingdom’s defence nuclear sector.
Together, we are advancing sovereign capability, helping Australian industry understand and prepare for the technical, regulatory and lifecycle demands of nuclear-powered submarine capability.
Practical support for AUKUS supply chain readiness
Delivering nuclear-powered submarines in Australia will require more than platform acquisition. It requires the integration of sovereign and international industrial capability, disciplined systems engineering, nuclear regulatory assurance, digital engineering maturity, and long-term sustainment capability. Together, our work supports organisations to understand regulatory frameworks, strengthen engineering capability and prepare quality management systems for nuclear-grade environments. Key areas of support include:
Nuclear regulatory readiness and quality assurance
The collaboration supports organisations preparing to work within nuclear submarine programs by strengthening governance, regulatory understanding and nuclear-grade quality management systems. Services include:
- ISO 19443 gap analysis against existing Quality Management Systems
- Assessment of management system documentation for nuclear safety compliance
- Identification of gaps against Australian Naval Nuclear Propulsion Safety Regulations (ANNPSR) legislative and regulatory requirements
- Development of action plans to achieve ISO 19443 certification readiness
- Preparatory audits to assess ISO 19443 certification readiness
- Development of roadmaps to nuclear safety compliance and certification
- Guidance on the alignment of Australian nuclear regulations with UK and US nuclear frameworks.
Engineering and program advisory
Through the collaboration, organisations can also access support to strengthen engineering capability and position themselves within the AUKUS supply chain. Services include:
- Systems engineering support for nuclear infrastructure and capability programs
- Technical consultancy on submarine system design and lifecycle supportability
- Advice on improving system design simplicity, safety and maintainability
- Guidance on UK, US and emerging Australian nuclear regulatory environments
- Support understanding pathways to participate in the AUKUS Pillar I supply chain
- Advisory services supporting the integration of digital engineering, modelling, simulation and analysis within complex defence programs.
Supporting a generational defence capability
Shoal and Assystem are committed to helping Australian industry build the capability required to deliver and sustain nuclear-powered submarines safely, securely and sustainably.
Contact us to discuss your organisation’s readiness for AUKUS Pillar I. Together, we can help ensure Australian industry is ready to contribute to the safe, secure and sustainable delivery of nuclear-powered submarine capability.
Discuss your AUKUS readiness
A partnership built on complementary expertise
For nearly two decades, Shoal has supported Australia’s submarine enterprise, including work with the Royal Australian Navy, ASC and defence industry partners.
Shoal applies systems engineering combined with modelling, simulation and analysis to help organisations define, analyse, decide, optimise and deliver technology-intensive systems in complex environments.
Shoal is also supporting Australian companies to meet nuclear safety requirements under the Australian Naval Nuclear Propulsion Safety Regulations, strengthening industry readiness for AUKUS Pillar I.
Assystem is a leading global engineering and project management company specialising in nuclear infrastructure and complex safety-critical systems.
In the UK, Assystem plays a significant role in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, including participation in the Capability Assured Strategic Partnership (CASP) with Rolls-Royce Submarines and the UK Ministry of Defence’s Nuclear Technical Support Provider framework.
This experience is now being applied in Australia to support the development of sovereign nuclear submarine capability.
