Days ago, within the framework of the AUKUS alliance, one of the Astute-class nuclear attack submarines of the Royal Navy arrived in Western Australia, marking a new step in the strategic cooperation between the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. The arrival of HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling, which responds to the objective of carrying out the first maintenance of a British nuclear submarine on Australian territory, comes at a particular time for the British submarine fleet, as this is the only unit of its class currently in service, generating alarm and doubt regarding the country’s deterrence capabilities.
The arrival of HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling represents the first maintenance activity carried out on a United Kingdom nuclear-powered submarine in Australia. Over the coming weeks, Australian personnel will work alongside specialists from the United Kingdom and the United States on technical tasks and familiarization with the Astute-class unit. Around 100 personnel will participate in the so-called United Kingdom Submarine Maintenance Period (UK SMP), including members of the Royal Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency, the Royal Australian Navy, the company ASC Pty Ltd, and the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, stated that “Australia’s acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine capability will create jobs, strengthen our local industry, and help keep Australians safe.” He also affirmed that “this Submarine Maintenance Period is the latest demonstration of the ongoing momentum among the three partners to deliver AUKUS.” For his part, the Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency, Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, maintained that “this multi-week maintenance activity will constitute a United Kingdom, United States, and Australia workforce and industrial supply chain. And that is precisely what AUKUS is about.”
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, stated that the process “is a significant milestone that will build confidence among our strategic partners that we have the workforce capable of delivering AUKUS submarines, and it also lays the groundwork for more local jobs.” He also affirmed that “together with our AUKUS partners, our workforce and our industrial partners are moving with determination to accelerate Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine capability. AUKUS partners are working together to achieve real operational benefits today, faster than we could individually.”
The deployment of HMS Anson follows its departure from HMNB Clyde on January 10, with an initial stop in Gibraltar before continuing its transit toward the Indo-Pacific. According to official announcements, the unit will join in 2026 the Submarine Rotational Force–West (SRF-West), which will operate from HMAS Stirling, near Perth. The UK Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, confirmed in December that an Astute-class submarine would be assigned to SRF-West and maintained that the deployment constitutes “a core planning assumption for the Royal Navy under AUKUS,” adding that the commitment is “realistic and manageable within existing force planning.”
The situation gains relevance due to the limited availability of nuclear attack submarines in the British fleet. Other units of the Astute class are in different states of maintenance or reduced availability, while the HMS Agamemnon, commissioned in September, is not yet operational. In that context, HMS Anson is currently the only fully operational Astute-class nuclear attack submarine in the Royal Navy.
During the visit, AUKUS partners will also conduct combined activities corresponding to Pillar I and Pillar II of the agreement, including interoperability testing of the Australian Speartooth Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) with a British nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN). In addition, artificial intelligence algorithms for anti-submarine warfare integrated into the Boeing P-8A Poseidon of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will be evaluated and enhanced, as part of strengthening joint capabilities in the Indo-Pacific domain.
*Images obtained from the Australian Submarines Agency.
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