ASC Pty Ltd: Supporting Australia’s Sovereign Submarine Capability, from Collins to AUKUS

Piper Alderman is a longstanding adviser to ASC Pty Ltd, Australia’s sovereign submarine builder and sustainer. Our team advises ASC on the procurement, commercial and construction contracting behind some of the nation’s most significant defence programs. This covers the sustainment and Life of Type Extension of the Collins Class fleet and, more recently, ASC’s work beyond Collins as it prepares to sustain nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS.

About ASC

ASC is a government business enterprise wholly owned by the Australian Government. It built the Collins Class submarines and has maintained the fleet since the last boat entered service in 2003. ASC is the prime contractor for the Collins Class Life of Type Extension, which commenced at Osborne in May 2026 with HMAS Farncomb. In March 2024, the Australian Government selected ASC as its Sovereign Submarine Sustainment Partner and, together with BAE Systems, as a Sovereign Submarine Build Partner under AUKUS. ASC will provide sustainment support for visiting US and UK submarines and, in time, Australia’s Virginia Class and SSN-AUKUS submarines in Western Australia. Through an incorporated joint venture with BAE Systems, it will also build a minimum of three, and up to five, SSN-AUKUS submarines at Osborne.

Our work

Our team has worked extensively on ASC’s Collins Class sustainment and Life of Type Extension contracting. Our work has now grown beyond Collins. We are helping ASC with construction contracting for the maintenance, workshop and warehousing infrastructure it needs to support nuclear-powered submarines in Western Australia, in the lead up to Submarine Rotational Force – West from 2027.

Our work for ASC includes:

• Construction contracting for infrastructure supporting ASC’s nuclear-powered submarine sustainment role
• Contracting for the Collins Class Life of Type Extension program
• Procurement and commercial contracting for Collins Class sustainment
• Supply, subcontract and services arrangements across the supply chain
• Ongoing general commercial advice

Our team

Juniper Watson is a Partner who leads Piper Alderman’s relationship with ASC, advising defence primes and government enterprises on procurement, commercial and construction contracting across naval sustainment and infrastructure programs.

Jonathon Comas, Head of Legal, Multi-Class Sustainment, ASC Pty Ltd, said:

“Juniper is a trusted advisor in the defence industry, having provided ongoing advice and legal assistance for critical projects such as development of naval infrastructure and sustainment and life-of-type extension of Collins-Class Submarines.”

Martin Lovell is Deputy Managing Partner and national head of Piper Alderman’s Projects, Infrastructure & Construction practice. He advises government, principals and contractors on major defence and infrastructure projects, bringing together skills in project structuring, finance and delivery.

Together, Juniper and Martin combine a detailed understanding of Commonwealth procurement frameworks and sovereign capability requirements with practical experience of the commercial realities of complex naval programs, from tender and contract structuring through to delivery. As Australia transitions to nuclear-powered submarines, Piper Alderman is proud to support ASC in building the sovereign capability the program depends on.