Australian and American navy personnel will maintain a nuclear submarine at HMAS Stirling in the coming weeks, in what's been dubbed a milestone for pillar one of Aukus.
Australian and American navy personnel will maintain a nuclear submarine at HMAS Stirling over the coming weeks, in what's been dubbed a milestone for pillar one of the Aukus security pact.
A Virginia Class nuclear-powered sub, USS Hawaii, will sit alongside service ship USS Emory S. Land at HMAS Stirling on Garden Island over the coming weeks as part of a submarine tendered maintenance period (STMP).
A crew of more than 30 Australian naval officers have been embedded on the USS Emory S. Land since January, building skills and knowledge in nuclear submarine maintenance.
The maintenance visit to HMAS Stirling, off Rockingham, is the next step in the process.
Australian personnel will undertake hands-on learning on the nuclear vessel, conducting and observing maintenance alongside experienced US officers.
They will be supported by Department of Defence sovereign sustainment partner ASC.
Australian chief of Navy, vice admiral Mark Hammond, labelled the visit a historic moment for the Royal Australian Navy.
“This is a testament to the friendship and trust which has been built over decades between the Australian, UK, and US Navies that underpins the AUKUS partnership.”
“The STMP is the AUKUS partnership in action. Working together, Navy-to-Navy, to share our knowledge, strengthen our skills, and keep our countries safe, secure, and strong.
“I congratulate the Navy officers and sailors aboard USS Emory S. Land and USS Hawaii.
“I know that they will make the Navy, their families, and our countries proud.”
No radioactive material will be brought ashore as part of the maintenance on the submarine.
In a release, the Defence department said port visits by US and UK vessels were a critical component of the preparation for 2027, when nuclear subs from each country are scheduled to rotate out of HMAS Stirling under the Aukus agreement.
“Port visits by US and UK SSNs, such as the STMP, are a vital part of building Australia’s capability and capacity to support maintenance on nuclear-powered submarines in the lead up to Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West) commencing in 2027,” it said.
Director-general of the Australian Submarine Agency, vice admiral Jonathan Mead, said the visit was a first step on the path to Australia procuring its own nuclear-powered Virginia Class submarines next decade.
“This submarine maintenance activity is another significant step forward in building Australia’s skills to safely operate and maintain our own sovereign conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s,” he said.
“The STMP is also an important opportunity to measure the progress Australia and our AUKUS partners are making as we develop not just our workforce, but also our infrastructure, our stewardship capabilities, and our supply chain.”
