A British nuclear powered attack submarine has arrived at HMAS Stirling near Perth in a visit the federal government says is a major step in Australia’s preparations for AUKUS.
HMS Anson sailed into the base on Sunday morning for what officials described as a maintenance and training period lasting several weeks with the stay is expected to run for about a month.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said it was the first time a United Kingdom nuclear powered submarine would do maintenance work in Australia.
He said it would help build the skills, systems and supply chains needed to support nuclear powered submarines in the future.
Richard Marles, Minister for Defence, said in a statement that “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.”
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The Department of Defence said around 100 personnel would take part in the maintenance period which includes staff from the Royal Navy, the UK Submarine Delivery Agency, the Royal Australian Navy, ASC Pty Ltd and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
It said the work builds on earlier maintenance activity at HMAS Stirling involving US Virginia class submarines USS Hawaii in 2024 and USS Vermont in 2025.
UK Deputy High Commissioner to Australia Brian Jones said the visit would include maintenance and joint exercises. He described it as a sign of the UK’s commitment to the pact.
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Brian Jones, UK Deputy High Commissioner to Australia, told journalists, “This submarine maintenance period … sends a simple message of our water-tight commitment to AUKUS, solid and unwavering.”
Defence said two Royal Australian Navy officers have been embedded aboard HMS Anson. It said more than 50 Australians are embedded within the UK Defence Nuclear Enterprise and more than 950 Australian Submarine Agency personnel have completed offshore nuclear safety training provided by the Royal Navy.
During the visit, AUKUS partners are also set to run a combined Pillar I and Pillar II activity.
This includes testing how well Australia’s Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicle works with the UK submarine and assessing anti submarine warfare AI algorithms fitted to the RAAF P 8A Poseidon
