AUKUS allies sign off on nuclear subs training for Australians

Richard Marles joined outgoing British PM Boris Johnson to sign off on a partnership that will see the HMS Anson manned by both Australian and British submariners.

Royal Australian Navy submariners will begin training on a nuclear propelled British submarine. Picture: AFP

In a deepening of Australian-British military ties under the AUKUS arrangement, Royal Australian Navy submariners will begin training on the nuclear propelled British submarine, the Astute class HMS Anson, having been cleared to access some of Britain’s top secret nuclear military secrets.

The Australian has also learned there are discussions to include the United States in the training mix, with a possible future submarine being staffed by a mix of Australian, British and American navy personnel.

Politicians and defence staff in the three countries are looking at an extensive three-way collaboration under AUKUS, not just confined to developing Australia’s submarines to replace the Collins class, but in upskilling Australia’s crews to deal with a nuclear submarine.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, in Barrow-in-Furness to watch the commissioning of the HMS Anson, Britain’s latest Astute class submarine, said on Thursday that “significant’ numbers of Royal Australian Navy personnel would be now trained by the Royal Navy.

He added that “significant numbers” of boat builders would also be trained up to deliver the Royal Australian Navy frigate program, as well as those required for future submarine building skills.

“We are growing a crew of submariners for our future, we need to be doing this with a significant number,’’ Mr Marles said, adding that the training being announced was “a really important statement of principle’’.

The UK and US have already welcomed Royal Australian Navy personnel on specialised nuclear training courses, with more to follow next year before the Australian submariners will go to sea.

HMS Anson, which is 97m long, will be armed with up to 38 Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedoe, and Block V Tomahawk land attack missiles, and able to tackle targets at a range of up to 1,500 kilometres.

Outgoing British prime minister Boris Johnson, who was at the commissioning of the submarine, said: “From the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea, our submarine service is protecting the UK and our allies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the deployment of Australian submariners alongside our British crews epitomises the strength of the AUKUS partnership.”

Mr Marles said around 80 Australian workers were currently in Govan, Scotland, helping work on the Type 26 frigate program who will then return to Adelaide to use their skills in building the Australian version of the frigate, the Hunter class.

“It is important to build a critical mass (of experts) who will go back to Adelaide and use their skills in building the Hunter class,’’ he said.

“We need to be doing a version of that in respect of the submarines as well and it needs to end up being a significant number (of people) at the end of the day. We are able to have not just a transfer of technology in respect of the hardware, but a transfer of skills in respect of the people.’’

British defence secretary Ben Wallace remarked that Australia’s future nuclear powered submarine, under the AUKUS agreement was “not an either, or type question” between the British or American designs but stressed it could be a collaborative program between three nations.

He said Australia’s submarine “may look like something none of us have in our stocks” with the latest post-Astute class submarine designs fully shared among Australia, Britain and the United States.

Mr Wallace said:“The question is how do we get to 2035 and 2040 in our deliveries (of building submarines) which we all need? We need to be truly collaborative as we can be, we might have a bit of all three of us on it, and in the meantime we’ve helped contribute to building a skills base and a workforce and an operating navy to deliver that.”

Mr Marles also revealed that the Australian government was “actively considering’’ whether to provide military training assistance to help train Ukrainian fighters as well as providing 60 Bushmaster vehicles.

The British government has headed a European coalition of trainers for Ukrainians, including Denmark, Sweden, Canada and The Netherlands and Mr Wallace said ‘we would like Australia to join us… it could make a difference”.

Mr Wallace also said that Britain was planning future joint activities with France in the Pacific, with patrols or joint deployments.

“It is absolutely key to send a message into the Pacific that is there is the US voice, but also the European voice. Britain and France, when we are together, we are quite formidable allies.”