The Australian and UK governments have reached a pivotal milestone in the development of the SSN AUKUS fleet of nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), BAE Systems, and ASC Pty Ltd have signed a Tasking Statement to advance critical areas such as build strategy, supply chain management, and workforce development.
“The Tasking Statement is an important step in establishing a sovereign nuclear submarine build capability in Australia,” said Stuart Whiley, Chief Executive Officer of ASC. “The program is anticipated to generate thousands of highly skilled jobs over its lifetime.”
The SSN AUKUS program, a multi-national, multi-generational initiative, represents a significant undertaking for Australia’s defense sector. According to Whiley, “The children at school today will be the ones building our submarine fleet of tomorrow.”
This collaboration is part of the broader AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States. The program aims to leverage the expertise of its partners to establish a sovereign submarine manufacturing capability in Adelaide.
Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Submarines division, emphasized the importance of the collaboration. “SSN AUKUS is our contribution to the critical tri-national security partnership. The safe build, test, and commissioning of nuclear submarines is a hugely complex engineering endeavor. Through these agreements, we’re able to share our vast experience of nuclear submarine capabilities with our industry partners to support the build of submarines in Australia.”
The SSN AUKUS submarines are designed for stealth and endurance, integrating advanced materials and cutting-edge technologies to perform a wide range of missions. These capabilities will include intelligence, surveillance, and underwater warfare.
Craig Lockhart, Chief Executive of BAE Systems Australia, highlighted the challenges and opportunities the project presents. “It is a complex build challenge that industry partners are coming together to deliver.”
Over the last eight months, government and industry partners have achieved key milestones. In November, the ASA, BAE Systems, and ASC signed an AUKUS Mobilisation Deed, providing a framework for collaboration with the Australian government. This followed the Heads of Agreement and the tri-lateral announcement of Australia’s shipbuilders in March.
Integrated Project Teams are overseeing critical areas such as nuclear stewardship, infrastructure development, and operational readiness. Essential business functions, including nuclear safety and assurance, are already in place to support the project’s successful execution.