HMS Anson has arrived at Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling for the first‑ever maintenance activity on a United Kingdom nuclear‑powered submarine in Australia, marking a historic step in our nation’s readiness to operate and maintain conventionally‑armed, nuclear‑powered submarines.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said, “Australia’s acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine capability will create jobs, strengthen our local industry and help keep Australians safe."
Over the coming weeks, Australian personnel will work alongside partners from the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) on maintenance and familiarisation activities on the Astute-class submarine.
Around 100 personnel will contribute to the UK Submarine Maintenance Period (UK SMP) including members of the Royal Navy, the UK Submarine Delivery Agency, Royal Australian Navy, ASC Pty Ltd, and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
Director‑General of the Australian Submarine Agency, Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead AO RAN, said, “This maintenance activity over a number of weeks will constitute a UK, a US and Australian workforce and an industry chain from all three countries. And that is what AUKUS is all about.”
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said, “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.”
This builds on previous work completed on US Virginia-class submarines USS Vermont in 2025 and USS Hawaii in 2024, and strengthens the skills, systems and supply chains required for routine maintenance of nuclear‑powered submarines.
Participation in the UK SMP represents another significant milestone in the lead up to the establishment of Submarine Rotational Force–West at HMAS Stirling from 2027 and will further build Australia’s familiarity with UK-designed submarines as the nation prepares to begin construction of SSN-AUKUS in Adelaide by the end of the decade.
Two Royal Australian Navy officers have been embedded aboard HMS Anson, gaining invaluable operational experience on a conventionally-armed, nuclear‑powered submarine.
More than 50 Australians are now embedded within the UK Defence Nuclear Enterprise, and the Royal Navy has provided offshore nuclear safety training to over 950 Australian Submarine Agency personnel.
The presence of HMS Anson also provides another opportunity to test and strengthen Australia’s nuclear stewardship systems, drawing on the world-leading safety practices of AUKUS partners.
During the HMS Anson visit, AUKUS partners will also undertake a combined AUKUS Pillar I and Pillar II activity, testing the interoperability of the Australian Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicle (LUUV) with the UK SSN, and assessing and enhancing AUKUS Pillar II anti-submarine warfare AI algorithms fitted to the RAAF P-8A Poseidon.