Joint Statement - Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period(Opens in a new tab/window)
Details
The Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (STMP) at HMAS Stirling is a key milestone and a tangible demonstration of AUKUS partners’ commitment to delivering a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia.
An STMP is a submarine maintenance activity supported by a tender ship, which provides the capabilities, equipment, facilities and crew to support, maintain, repair and supply a submarine.
This STMP marks the first time Australian personnel will directly participate in the maintenance of a nuclear-powered submarine in Australia. This builds on previous visits from US nuclear-powered submarines USS North Carolina and USS Annapolis.
Over the last year, Australian personnel have undergone training provided by the U.S. and the UK to understand how to safely operate, maintain and regulate Australia’s future conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability, to be delivered under AUKUS.
Through the STMP, uniformed and civilian personnel from our three nations will work together to transfer knowledge and skills necessary to set us on the trajectory to establish Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West) and accelerate Australia’s efforts to be ‘sovereign ready’ to own and operate its own sovereign nuclear-powered submarine capability. SRF-West will involve the rotational presence of one UK Astute class and up to four U.S. Virginia class submarines at HMAS Stirling.
Nuclear safety and stewardship are the cornerstones of AUKUS, underpinned by the decades-long unmatched safety records of the UK and the U.S. During the STMP, no radiological material will be transferred ashore.
AUKUS partners are committed to setting the highest nuclear non-proliferation standard as part of Australia’s acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.