The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) says the arrival of the United Kingdom submarine HMS Anson in Western Australia marks a new phase in Australia’s preparations to operate and maintain conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership.
HMS Anson has arrived at HMAS Stirling for the first-ever maintenance activity on a UK nuclear-powered submarine conducted in Australia, ASA said in a news release.
The activity, known as a UK Submarine Maintenance Period (UK SMP), will take place over several weeks and involve personnel from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the milestone demonstrated continued progress across the three AUKUS partners.
“Australia’s acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine capability will create jobs, strengthen our local industry and help keep Australians safe. This Submarine Maintenance Period is the latest demonstration of the continued momentum across all three partners to deliver AUKUS,” he said.
He added that Australia, the UK and the US would work together during the visit to develop skills, systems and infrastructure ahead of the planned establishment of Submarine Rotational Force–West.
According to the agency, around 100 personnel are contributing to the UK SMP, including members of the Royal Navy, the UK Submarine Delivery Agency, the 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 the activity reflected the integrated nature of the partnership.
“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,” he said.
The agency said the work builds on previous maintenance activities conducted on US Virginia-class submarines, including USS Vermont in 2025 and USS Hawaii in 2024, and is intended to strengthen the skills, systems and supply chains required for routine maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the milestone would help demonstrate Australia’s readiness.
“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,” he said.
He added that AUKUS partners were “working together to achieve real operational benefits today, faster than we can working alone.”
The agency said participation in the UK SMP is a further step towards the establishment of Submarine Rotational Force–West at HMAS Stirling from 2027, and will build familiarity with UK-designed submarines as Australia 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, while more than 50 Australians are embedded within the UK Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
The Royal Navy has also provided offshore nuclear safety training to more than 950 Australian Submarine Agency personnel, according to the release.
During the visit, AUKUS partners will undertake combined Pillar I and Pillar II activities, including testing interoperability between the Australian Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicle and the UK submarine, and assessing anti-submarine warfare artificial intelligence algorithms fitted to the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
The agency said the visit also provides an opportunity to test and strengthen Australia’s nuclear stewardship systems, drawing on the safety practices of its AUKUS partners.
