As part of the AUKUS Program, the Australian government announced the acquisition of critical nuclear propulsion components from the United Kingdom worth AU$310 million (approximately US$205 million), intended for the construction of the future attack submarines that will equip the Royal Australian Navy.
According to the statement released by Australia’s Department of Defence, the investment corresponds to the purchase of so-called long lead items—that is, complex components with extended production timelines that must be ordered several years in advance. In this case, the components are linked to the nuclear propulsion system of the future SSN-AUKUS submarines.
What does the purchase entail?
The nuclear propulsion systems for the AUKUS submarines will be based on British technology, specifically on a design evolving from the experience of the Royal Navy’s Astute class. In that regard, the reactor will be supplied by the United Kingdom, while the United States will contribute complementary technology and industrial cooperation within the framework of the trilateral agreement.
On this basis, the early acquisition of these components confirms that the industrial schedule is moving toward a pre–initial production phase, projected for the end of this decade. It is important to clarify that Australia will not manufacture the nuclear reactor at this stage; instead, it will integrate modules produced in the United Kingdom into its own naval construction program in Osborne, Australia. “Australia continues to work with the United Kingdom and the United States to develop the capabilities, skills, and expertise that will support our ability to build, operate, and sustain nuclear-powered submarines,” stated Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
A concrete step within the AUKUS timeline
By way of overview, the AUKUS program is structured in several successive phases. In the first phase (known as Pillar I), Australia will host rotational deployments of U.S. Navy and Royal Navy nuclear-powered attack submarines at its bases, allowing Royal Australian Navy personnel to gain operational and logistical experience in sustaining this type of platform.
At the same time, there is a progressive transfer of industrial capabilities, training of technical personnel, and adaptation of strategic infrastructure within Australian territory. Ultimately, in the 2030s, local construction of the future SSN-AUKUS submarines is planned at the Osborne shipyard, consolidating Australia’s capacity to produce and maintain nuclear-powered submarines.
Moreover, the latest announcement under the program comes just days after the arrival in Australia of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling. This deployment is part of the objective of conducting the first maintenance period of a British nuclear submarine on Australian soil.
This move forms part of the broader cooperation and transition framework toward Australia’s future capability, while also representing the first maintenance activity carried out on a United Kingdom nuclear-powered submarine in Australia under the UK Submarine Maintenance Period (UK SMP). According to official announcements, the vessel will join the Submarine Rotational Force–West (SRF-West) in 2026, operating from HMAS Stirling near Perth.
Beyond this, it should not be overlooked that the presence of this unit—together with previous U.S. Navy deployments to Australia—conveys a dual message: strengthening interoperability in the Indo-Pacific and accelerating the learning curve of Australian crews and engineers in sustaining nuclear propulsion platforms.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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