Concept art of the planned SSN AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine. Image: BAE Systems.
A major milestone in Australia’s plans to build nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide has been achieved, with the signing of a ‘Tasking Statement’ to develop the foundations of the program.
The statement was signed by the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) and industry partners BAE Systems and ASC. The contractual agreement will support the joint development of build strategy, supply chain management plans and a workforce development strategy for the SSN AUKUS submarines which will be delivered from the early 2040s.
The Tasking Statement follows the selection in March of BAE Systems and ASC as Australia’s Sovereign Submarine Build Partner and Sovereign Submarine Sustainment Partner respectively, and the signing in November of a tripartite ‘Mobilisation Deed’ between the companies and the ASA to commence preparatory work on the project.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) plans to acquire about six SSN AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines to be built in Australia. These will follow a planned buy of between three and five US-built Viriginia class SSNs from 2032.
CEO and managing director of ASC Stuart Whiley said the Tasking Statement was an important step in establishing a sovereign nuclear submarine build capability in Australia.
“The program is anticipated to generate thousands of highly skilled jobs over its lifetime,” he said.
“SSN AUKUS is a multinational, multigenerational program through which ASC will invest in developing the critical skills required to build a nuclear submarine fleet in Australia.
“It’s hard to imagine, but the children at school today will be the ones building our submarine fleet of tomorrow.”
Despite the signing of the statement, ASC’s submarine sustainment capabilities have come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks.
In November the company reached a new enterprise agreement with its Adelaide-based workforce through the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and other unions, after more than six months of protected action over claims they were paid less than their Western Australia-based counterparts.
And just last week the RAN’s Collins-class submarine program was placed on the government’s Projects of Concern list due to shortfalls in ASC’s sustainment of the six conventionally-powered submarines.
BAE Systems has come under similar scrutiny in recent years after delays to the UK Royal Navy’s Astute submarine build program, and developmental issues with the UK’s follow-on class of nuclear-powered Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines.
Managing director of BAE Systems’ Submarines business Steve Timms said, “SSN AUKUS is our contribution to the critical tri-national security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US.
“The safe build, test and commissioning of nuclear submarines is a hugely complex engineering endeavour and, 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.
“We have a long history of delivering sovereign capability and security in Australia and the UK and the Tasking Statement underpins further support to essential delivery capabilities in Adelaide, with support from Barrow.”
BAE Systems’ Australia CEO Craig Lockhart said the SSN AUKUS was focused on stealth and endurance.
“The SSN AUKUS submarine will integrate cutting edge technologies and advanced materials to enable it to operate the full spectrum of underwater missions, from advanced intelligence and surveillance through to underwater warfare,” he said.
“It is a complex build challenge that industry partners are coming together to deliver.
“Work is underway on defining the delivery schedule, the enablement environment for future information transfer between the UK, US and Australia, as well as design of the new yard at Osborne to accommodate the build.”
