HMS Anson arrived in Western Australia at present to undertake the first-ever upkeep exercise on a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine in Australia. The go to marks a big milestone in AUKUS preparations and Australia’s ambition to function conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
Anson sailed from Gibraltar on 23 January and accomplished the 8,200 nautical mile continuous transit over the course of a month at sea earlier than coming into HMAS Stirling. Her entry to the bottom was barely delayed by infrastructure arrange for the annual Rottnest Channel Swim stopping transit by means of the channel, though the swim was finally cancelled as a consequence of unhealthy climate.
Anson’s direct passage to Australia dispels hypothesis that she is likely to be diverted for Tomahawk land-attack operations in the Middle East. Political alerts from London, together with the Prime Minister’s refusal to authorise using UK airbases for US strikes on Iran, underline the federal government’s option to keep away from motion in the area.
To many observers, the timing of the deployment to Australia seems extraordinary. With no different RN assault submarines out there and a weakening floor fleet, whereas tensions with Russia proceed to rise, sending the only real operational SSN to the opposite aspect of the globe invitations scrutiny. The UK should honour its commitments below AUKUS, however in the close to time period, there’s a official debate about whether or not extra fast regional considerations ought to take priority.
Positioning Britain’s solely out there assault submarine so removed from house waters dangers showing inconsistent with agency official messaging that any hostile act by Moscow might be met with energy and resolve. The small SSN drive represents the UK’s most potent standard deterrent and strongest asset to discourage malign Russian underwater exercise.
Over the approaching weeks, round 100 personnel will work on the boat in a Submarine Maintenance Period (SMP). The effort brings collectively the RN, the UK Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), ASC Pty Ltd and specialists from Pearl Harbour Naval Shipyard. The exercise represents the primary time the UK has performed such a upkeep interval for certainly one of its nuclear-powered assault submarines outdoors house waters.
This work builds immediately on Australia’s current expertise supporting USN Virginia-class boats, together with USS Hawaii in 2024 and USS Vermont in 2025. Each step incrementally develops the economic abilities, regulatory methods and provide chains essential to maintain nuclear-powered submarines safely and routinely. HMS Astute beforehand visited Australia in 2021, shortly after the AUKUS pact was agreed.
HMAS Stirling would be the base for Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West), below which US and UK nuclear-powered submarines will rotate by means of Western Australia on a persistent foundation. Establishing the workforce, services and nuclear stewardship preparations to assist this presence is central to the credibility of AUKUS Pillar I.
Two RAN officers are presently embedded aboard HMS Anson, gaining first-hand operational expertise in a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine. More than 50 Australians at the moment are embedded throughout the UK Defence Nuclear Enterprise, whereas the RN has delivered offshore nuclear security coaching to over 950 personnel related to the Australian Submarine Agency.
These exchanges illustrate that AUKUS is as a lot about individuals as platforms. Developing a cadre of skilled nuclear-qualified engineers, maintainers and operators will take years. Anson’s upkeep interval accelerates this studying curve, exposing Australian personnel to the requirements and procedures that underpin protected submarine operations.
During the go to, AUKUS companions are anticipated to conduct mixed Pillar I and Pillar II actions, together with testing the interoperability of the C2 Roboticts Speartooth Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) with HMS Anson. In parallel, ASW synthetic intelligence algorithms related to AUKUS Pillar II might be assessed and refined utilizing information from the Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane.
