Australia and the UK have announced advancements in the AUKUS program to deliver a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for the Royal Australian Navy.
The Australian Submarine Agency, BAE Systems, and ASC Pty Ltd have agreed to collaborate on construction planning, supply chain coordination, and workforce training for the first AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN).
ASC CEO Stuart Whiley called the agreement an “important step in establishing a sovereign nuclear submarine build capability in Australia.”
Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE’s Submarines business, added that through the agreements, “we’re able to share our vast experience of nuclear submarine capabilities with our industry partners to support the build of submarines in Australia.”
The involved parties are now defining the delivery schedule, establishing the framework for future information exchange, and designing a new shipyard at Osborne in New South Wales to support the construction.
BAE Systems was selected for the AUKUS program in March under a 4.6 billion Australian dollar ($3 billion) contract.
SSN AUKUS Progress
Launched in 2021, the AUKUS submarine program is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US aimed at enhancing security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
This year, the initiative progressed across multiple key areas, with the first submarine expected to be delivered in the early 2040s.
In November, the UK and Australia established the SSN-AUKUS Programme Interface Office to coordinate supply chain integration and sovereign program management between London and Canberra.
Additionally, AUKUS partners reaffirmed their commitment to working with the International Atomic Energy Agency to uphold non-proliferation safety standards.
Earlier in June, Australia sent its first team to Pearl Harbor for submarine maintenance training.
