Royal Navy submarine HMS Anson is paying her first visit to Australia as part of the ongoing AUKUS agreement which will eventually see Australia acquire her own nuclear-powered boats.
This weekend the British Astute-class submarine docked at HMAS Stirling, a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base near Perth in Western Australia.
The visit is part of the AUKUS Pillar trilateral agreement between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. to equip the RAN with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) to enhance Indo-Pacific security.
The three nations are developing a new, next-generation attack submarine (SSN-AUKUS) based on a British design and incorporating U.S. technology.
Submarines will be built in the U.K. and Australia, with the first British submarine entering service in the late 2030s and the first Australian-built submarine in the early 2040s.
As part of the arrangement the U.S. is expected to transfer three Virginia-class SSNs to Australia in the early 2030s, with potential for the sale of a further two.
The visit of HMS Anson is a key element of the ongoing programme to help Australia to acquire the required expertise to operate and maintain nuclear-powered submarines. It follows similar visits from American Virginia-class boats USS Vermont in October last year and USS Hawaii in August 2024.
In 2027 Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) is scheduled to be officially established, under which the U.S. and U.K. will rotate keeping submarines in Western Australia to continue to train Australian personnel.
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Paul Beattie was in HMAS Stirling to coincide with HMS Anson’s arrival. He commented: “This visit represents far more than a port call, it is a demonstration of the deep trust, shared purpose, and collective ambition at the heart of AUKUS.
“Together, we are forging the interoperability and cooperation that will define our partnership for decades to come.”
Commanding Officer of the A-boat, Cdr Aaron Williams, said: “The crew of HMS Anson are excited to be in Australia. Travelling a distance unsupported of over 8,000 nautical miles, we are ready to showcase what HMS Anson has to offer.
“We are looking forward to conducting a short maintenance period, working closely with both our Australian and American allies, and engaging with the local community.”
As per an RN statement, while the British sub is in Australia, the navies will trial new tech including undersea data analysis via a recently developed AI algorithm for use in Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.
The boat, which had stopped in Gibraltar en route before sailing direct for 8,000 miles on the rest of her journey, will also undergo maintenance at the RAN base.
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website