Source : Perth Now news
The UK has for the first time docked a nuclear-powered submarine at Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling, marking a major step in Australia’s preparation for its own fleet over nuclear-powered boats.
Under AUKUS, the UK and the US have agreed to let Australian Defence Force personnel carry out maintenance on their nuclear submarines.
ADF crews will work alongside British and American teams to ensure HMS Anston, a four-year-old Astute-class, is fit for service before it is released back into the Indian Ocean.
It is also aimed at helping Australians get used to British designs before construction begins on the new SSN-AUKUS submarines in Adelaide later this decade.
Defence Minister Richard Marles on Sunday spruiked HMS Anson’s docking as “the latest demonstration of the continued momentum across all three partners to deliver AUKUS”.
“Australia, the UK and the US will work together over the coming weeks on the maintenance of HMS Anson – developing our skills, systems and infrastructure as we prepare for Submarine Rotational Force–West to begin next year,” he said.
Submarine Rotational Force-West is a permanent rotation of British and American submarines starting in Western Australia in 2027.
It will see up to four US and one UK submarine operating out of HMAS Stirling – a prospect that has not gone down well in Beijing.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the work on HMS Anson would signal to London and Washington that Australia was getting ready to build, maintain and crew its own fleet.
“This is an important milestone that will build confidence in our strategic partners that we have the workforce able to deliver AUKUS submarines, and also lays ground for more jobs for locals,” Mr Conroy said.
“Alongside our AUKUS teammates, our workforce and industry partners are moving with purpose to accelerate Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine capability.
“AUKUS partners are working together to achieve real operational benefits today, faster than we can working alone.”
The US has already docked two Virginia-class submarines in Western Australia – the type Australia is set to acquire in the early 2030s.
Under the $368bn defence pact, the Navy will buy three American Virginia-class submarines with the option to buy a further two.
The first Australian-built SSN-AUKUS – a new generation class being designed by BAE Systems in the UK – is scheduled to be delivered in the early 2040s, with construction set to start at Adelaide’s Osborne Naval Shipyard by the end of this decade.
The shipyard is expected to build five SSN-AUKUS submarines.
