- First joint US and Australian AUKUS visit to the UK to
support development of Australian submarine maintenance
workforce.
- AUKUS personnel hosted in Faslane, Scotland.
- Maintenance of rotational submarine force under AUKUS
partnership to boost global security.
Representatives from the Australian and US Submarine Support
organisations have joined Royal Navy personnel in Faslane for the
first time, to watch and understand how to maintain
nuclear-powered submarines, which will support future global
stability.
Forming an Advance Verification Team (AVT), subject matter
experts from all three AUKUS nations have joined British shipyard
personnel to develop their understanding of the maintenance and
industrial skills required to maintain a nuclear-powered
submarine.
Following a similar visit to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in
August this year, the AVT learnt about the requirements needed to
provide an Australian-based facility that can support both UK and
US maintenance activity during a future forward-deployed
submarine presence in the region.
Under the AUKUS partnership, the Royal Navy, with its Australian
and US counterparts will work together to meet shared threats and
uphold stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
This visit marks a tangible step forward for AUKUS delivery,
driving knowledge-sharing and development in Australia that will
be critical to the success of the programme.
Minister for Defence Procurement, said:
The AUKUS partnership is a truly tangible demonstration of our
ongoing commitment to global security.
These visits are crucial for teams from all three nations to
understand how best to work together as we strike ahead on the
AUKUS programme, delivering cutting-edge capability to protect
ourselves, and our allies and partners, for decades to
come.
Further to understanding how to maintain and support
nuclear-powered submarines, the visit sought to build trilateral
relationships and communications between the teams who will
deliver the submarine rotational force.
Based in Faslane for two weeks, the AVT have spent time
understanding and developing the skills needed to take the AUKUS
partnership forward. The visit has successfully shown the
extent of the similarities and differences between our ways of
working, as well as highlighting areas that will best support the
development of maintenance capability in Australia.
Rear Admiral Simon Asquith, Director Submarines,
said:
This is an exciting moment for AUKUS delivery, marking initial
trilateral efforts to ensure Australia can support US and UK
submarine presence in Western Australia.
The AVT successfully paved the way for future collaboration from
all partner nations and we look forward to this continued close
working with both Navies and industry going forward.
The AUKUS partnership is a strategic endeavour that strengthens
the three nations’ national security, promoting peace and
stability.
Last month, the AUKUS partnership celebrated its two-year
anniversary, and earlier this year the three AUKUS nations
announced a way forward for the programme, with the first
generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines to be built in the UK and
Australia, based on the UK’s world-leading submarine
design.
Last week, a further £4 billion of investment was announced for
the AUKUS partnership. The contracts will progress the programme
through the design, prototyping and purchase of main long lead
components for the first UK submarines, allowing construction to
commence in the coming years and ensure the stability and
resilience of our domestic supply chain.
Building on more than 60 years of British expertise in designing,
building and operating nuclear-powered submarines, the contracts
will support thousands of highly skilled jobs in the UK – a clear
demonstration of how the AUKUS programme supports the Prime
Minister’s priority to grow the economy.
The SSN-AUKUS submarines will be the largest, most advanced, and
most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy,
combining world-leading sensors, design, and weaponry in one
vessel.
