A northern Adelaide engineering firm that once made Victa lawnmower engines will build parts for United States aircraft carriers, after becoming the state’s first company in the global AUKUS supply chain.

Century Engineering, based at Edinburgh North, has received an order for cranks, which form part of the blast deflector system on a US navy aircraft carrier.

This puts Century in the supply chain of HII Newport News Shipbuilding, which is the sole designer and builder of US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

It is currently designing and building the next-generation Gerald R. Ford class. The lead ship, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, has just left the Middle East after a 300-plus-day deployment during the Iran conflict.

Century, which employs more than 190 skilled workers, has evolved from supporting whitegoods and automotive manufacturing to defence projects, including Adelaide-built Hobart class air warfare destroyers, Collins class submarines and Hunter class frigates.

The firm, which made two-stroke Victa engines until 2016, was backed to reach the deal by a federal government Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) program.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said AUKUS, which includes $368bn nuclear-powered submarine construction centred on Adelaide, was “one of the greatest industrial endeavours in our nation’s history”.

“This is a really exciting announcement for Century Engineering, for South Australia and for our national industrial base,” he said.

“This program is all about creating jobs, growing skills and strengthening the industrial partnerships at the heart of AUKUS – all while developing a strong, sovereign submarine enterprise here in Australia.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas, who will visit Century Engineering on Monday, said its work was “a shining example of the transformative opportunity AUKUS presents for South Australian manufacturing”.

“Not so long ago Century was making parts for Victa lawnmowers. Now, through the opportunity provided by AUKUS, it is making parts for nuclear powered aircraft carriers in the United States,” he said.

Mr Malinauskas said the state and federal government-backed work was a new opportunity to “grow a highly complex export industry, and sustain secure, well paid jobs for a long time to come”.

Century Engineering managing director David Heaslip said: “This is a rewarding acknowledgment of our evolution from simple component manufacturer to suppling advanced manufacturing capability to US naval nuclear platforms.”

Century Engineering trainee Ciara Della-Flora’s parents met through ASC and eight months ago she became the latest member of the family to join the defence industry.

The 19-year-old who “didn’t like school much”, works in human resources for Century through the Defence Industry Pathways Program.

“I’m honoured to be part of a huge project to help Australia,” she said.

Almost $40m has been pumped so far into the AUSSQ program, delivered by H & B Defence, a HII and Babcock joint venture.

H & B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown said: “Century Engineering’s success marks a real shift for Australian industry under AUKUS – from building capability to delivering into it.

“This is more than a single contract; it shows Australian SMEs can meet the highest standards and take their place in trusted international defence supply chains, contributing at scale.”

Initially, the program’s focus is on Australian businesses delivering castings, forgings and precision machining – 13 companies have achieved supplier qualifications so far.

Another $14m will be allocated to the program’s next phase, which will focus on businesses with expertise in composites, glass-reinforced plastics, furniture and joinery, being able to compete for opportunities in US nuclear-powered submarine and aircraft carrier supply chains.