As part of a scheduled visit by the United States Navy (US Navy) under the AUKUS Program, the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN-783) arrived at HMAS Stirling Naval Base days ago to conduct training with personnel from the Royal Australian Navy over the coming days. The arrival of the U.S. submarine occurred just days after the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China carried out live-fire exercises between the coasts of Australia and New Zealand.
According to the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, the USS Minnesota (SSN-783) is conducting operations as part of the Submarine Command Course, a training program for naval officers preparing to take command of one of these units. In this context, this is the first planned visit of a nuclear submarine to Australian ports in 2025, with its next stop including a three-week maintenance period.
The multinational AUKUS program between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States aims to build nuclear-powered attack submarines to equip the Royal Australian Navy. One of the key points of this agreement is the technology-sharing pact that will allow Australia to acquire between three and five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines while developing a new class of attack submarines in collaboration with the United Kingdom. This acquisition will help bridge the capability gap in nuclear propulsion following the future retirement of the six Collins-class attack submarines.
The Minnesota is the fourth U.S. submarine to visit HMAS Stirling naval base under the AUKUS program and since the announcement of the Optimal Pathway in 2023, a three-phase strategy to prepare Australia for the arrival of nuclear-powered submarines.
In preparation for the arrival of the first unit in 2027, the first phase includes the deployment and visit of U.S. submarines to Australia, culminating in the acquisition of the initial units. The second phase involves Australia’s purchase of between three and five Virginia-class submarines, and finally, in the 2040s, Australia and the United Kingdom will complete the construction of the SSN-AUKUS, their own nuclear-powered attack submarine.
Since the start of the first phase, the United States Navy has been present in Australia with the USS North Carolina (SSN-777) in August 2023, followed by the USS Annapolis (SSN-760) in March 2024 and the USS Hawaii (SSN-776) between August and September 2024. “This visit follows the recent maintenance period at HMAS Stirling, which marked the first time Australians directly participated in the maintenance of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Australia,” stated the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond.
Finally, it is worth noting that while the United States Navy was present in Australia, a few days ago a Task Group composed of three ships from China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) carried out a series of live-fire drills near the Australian coast. This action was denounced by Australian authorities due to the lack of prior notice, as commercial ships and aircraft in the area had to be diverted from their original routes and flight plans.
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