The Australian and UK Governments have announced a significant milestone between the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) and industry partners that will support the delivery of the SSN-AUKUS fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
The ASA, BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd have signed a Tasking Statement, a contractual agreement that supports the joint development of build strategy, supply chain management plans and a workforce development strategy.
Stuart Whiley, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ASC, said: “The Tasking Statement is 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.
“SSN-AUKUS is a multi-national, multi-generational 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.”
Steve Timms, Managing Director, BAE Systems’ Submarines business, 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.”
Craig Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer, BAE Systems Australia, said: “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.
“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.”
Over the past eight months, government and industry partners have made progress across a number of areas for delivery of the SSN-AUKUS. In November, the ASA, BAE Systems and ASC signed an AUKUS Mobilisation Deed, which provides a framework to contract with the Australian Government through the ASA. That followed the Heads of Agreement and the tri-lateral announcement of the Commonwealth of Australia’s shipbuilders in March.
Integrated Project Teams are now working to oversee tasks such as nuclear stewardship, infrastructure functional requirements, business enablement and build preparation. Underpinning business functions, such nuclear safety and assurance, engineering and build operations have also been established.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The Australian Government selected BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to jointly build Australia’s new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in a significant development in the AUKUS trilateral security pact between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
- On 22 March 2024, Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, and the then UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced the trilateral partnership in Australia, marking the next step in the pathway for Australia to build and operate its own nuclear-powered submarines.
- The SSNA platform will replace the Astute Class SSN for the UK Royal Navy from the late 2030s and all partners are working to facilitate the first Australian AUKUS SSNs will be delivered in the early 2040s.
ABOUT ASC:
ASC built Australia’s Collins Class submarines and now sustains them, while providing in-operation service and support to deliver world-class availability to the Royal Australian Navy.
ABOUT BAE Systems Australia:
BAE Systems has a heritage of more than 70 years in Australia, leading the development of next-generation capability across all domains. Our industry partners are critical to our success in delivering solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. As Australia’s biggest defence company, with more than 6000 employees and operations at 40 sites across the nation, BAE Systems is committed to strengthening Australia’s sovereign industrial capability.
For more information, please contact:
Beth Neilson, BAE Systems plc
M: +44 (0) 7787 669 236
E: [email protected]
Richard Sproull, BAE Systems Australia
M: +61 (0) 460 434 397
E: [email protected]
Sarah Miteff, Corporate Communications Manager
M: 0438 047 313
E: [email protected]
Damon Hunt, Head of Corporate Communications and Media
M: 0409079887
E: [email protected]
Julie La Rosa, General Manager of Stakeholder Relations
M: 08 8348 7796
E: [email protected]
Image: Artist’s impression of an SSN-AUKUS submarine. Courtesy of BAE Systems.
