Rolls-Royce Trains Australian Cohort for AUKUS Submarine Development

Rolls-Royce recently hosted the UK and Australian Defence Ministers at its nuclear reactor manufacturing site in Derby to train Australian personnel in developing conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines. This training is part of the AUKUS agreement, which aims to equip Australia with the knowledge and resources to acquire and maintain nuclear-powered attack submarines. The goal is to deter Chinese military aggression and protect Western interests in the Indo-Pacific. Over the next seven weeks, 13 Australians will receive training and familiarization in the submarine development process, including visits to companies like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Babcock. This initiative follows a previous visit to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, where the focus was on establishing an Australian-based facility to support UK and US maintenance activities in the region. Building these submarines is a complex and time-consuming project, but Australia’s domestic industry has expanded to meet the challenge. Rolls-Royce will provide the first cohort with the opportunity to observe and learn from the UK’s advanced submarine technology. This collaboration between the AUKUS partners will also create new opportunities for businesses across all three nations. By increasing production capacity in allied states, the UK and US can better manage their submarine projects. The expected start date for the SSN-AUKUS project is in the mid-2030s, with service entry in the late 2030s or early 2040s. However, both countries face challenges in maintaining their current submarine fleets while building new ones. Despite these challenges, the AUKUS partnership is committed to enhancing industrial capabilities and strengthening supply chains.