Australia has sent its first team to Pearl Harbor to train in sustainment for the government’s upcoming AUKUS submarines.
The AUKUS program is a trilateral cooperation between Australia, the UK, and the US to protect allies and interests across the Pacific with a dedicated underwater fleet.
For the maintenance training, Canberra sourced around 30 skilled workers from Western and South Australia affiliated with local shipbuilder ASC Pty Ltd.
This group includes electricians, mechanical fitters, safety engineers, and battery crew specialists, most of which have “decades of combined experience” with the Royal Australian Navy’s existing Collins-class submarines.
The Pearl Harbor training will leverage lessons and hands-on tasks associated with the upkeep of the US Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear power submarines. The Australian team will practice with their American counterparts throughout the project.
‘Rock-Solid Commitment’
Once their training is complete, the first AUKUS sustainment personnel will take on critical roles in Western Australia as part of Submarine Rotational Force-West, wherein they will lead corresponding works for the rotating US and British nuclear submarines including the Virginia and Astute-class systems.
They will also be given training capabilities to prepare other ASC workforces.
Canberra wrote that over 100 Australian shipyard personnel at ASC are expected to receive naval propulsion training in Pearl Harbor by next year.
“This is another exciting step when it comes to developing the workforce we need for the AUKUS program which presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Australians to take advantage of unique and exciting education, training and career development programs, both here and overseas,” Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated.
“These highly skilled workers already have decades of combined submarine experience having sustained our Collins class submarines and now have the opportunity to be upskilled by our US counterparts in sustaining nuclear-powered submarines.”
“Such unique education and training opportunities for Australian workers reflect the rock-solid commitment of our US and UK partners to our nation-building AUKUS program.”
Latest AUKUS Projects in Australia
Canberra sent a separate team to the US in June to prepare for tactical operations with Australia’s own AUKUS submarines.
One month earlier, the government selected an industry consortium to supply a concept design for an AUKUS shipyard to be built in Osborne, South Australia.
In March, Australia awarded BAE Systems a contract to construct the nation’s AUKUS fleet. BAE, in partnership with ASC, will deliver the initial vessel in the early 2040s.
