AUKUS governments and industry press ‘go’ on submarine build

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 locally built, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The SSNA platform will replace the Astute Class SSN for the UK Royal Navy…

Trumpians back AUKUS and Adelaide submarine build – Marles

The federal government is unconcerned about the future of the AUKUS agreement and the construction of nuclear powered submarines in Australia under a Trump presidency, and will press on with developing the workforce and infrastructure at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, according to Defence Minister Richard Marles. Marles, who is also Deputy Prime Minister,…

Project launched to develop n-submarine construction skills

The Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance (Manufacturing Alliance) has launched a national project to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in defence manufacturing, including submarine manufacturing now underway. The move follows Wednesday’s announcement of the start of the industrial campaign which will ultimately see BAE Systems and ASC construct SSN-AUKUS nuclear powered submarines at the…

ASC, BAE Systems to begin planning, procurement to build SSN-AUKUS submarines

The federal government has begun the industrial campaign which will ultimately see Australia construct SSN-AUKUS nuclear powered submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide. In March it was announced that the submarines, to follow on from the arrival of interim US nuclear powered vessels for service in the 2040s, are to be constructed by…

ASC selects first AUKUS collaboration partner

Australia’s submarine company, ASC, has named US veteran-owned defence contractor Orbis Sibr as its first US AUKUS capability collaboration partner.  In a statement on Monday, ASC said Orbis will be engaged “to perform a Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-W) Gap Analysis to support ASC’s requirements to develop and deliver a SSN Submarine Support System Plan and…

Korea’s Hanwha abandons takeover of Austal – media reports

By Peter Roberts Korea’s Hanwha defence group has abandoned its takeover bid for Australia’s most successful indigenous owned defence manufacturer Austal, according to media reports this morning. The takeover was ended in a letter to Austal from Hanwha Ocean CEO Hyek Woong Kwon titled ‘Termination of discussions with Austal’. The company blamed Austal’s ‘insistence’ that…

200 young workers recruited for n-sub work

The federal government has announced a new Jobs for Subs programme for 200 young workers required for the maintenance of US and UK nuclear submarines in Perth under Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-W). The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Graduate, Apprenticeship and Traineeship initiative is a government-funded recruitment and upskilling program for graduates, apprentices and trainees within…

Legislation clears way for n-submarine import and local build

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have signed an agreement in Washington (pictured) clearing the way for Australia’s import of Virginia class nuclear submarines. The agreement for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion was tabled in federal parliament today. The agreement also enables the import of equipment for the later construction at the…