The federal government has announced the go ahead for the life-of-type extension programme for the Collins class submarine fleet, extending their life until the arrival of Virginia class nuclear powered submarines. HMAS Farncomb will be the first of the Collins class submarines to undergo sustainment and capability enhancement at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide…
Another step in the process of Australia acquiring, and eventually building, nuclear powered submarines has been taken with the first three Royal Australian Navy officers assigned to US Virginia class submarines based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The officers, Lieutenant Commander James Heydon, Lieutenant Commander Adam Klyne and Lieutenant William Hall, were assigned after graduating…
US Congress has reportedly approved the transfer of three Virginia-class submarines – two existing vessels and one new vessel – to Australia, paving the way for nuclear powered submarines to join the RAN fleet. Both houses have now passed the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorises the transfer which will see Virginia submarines…
The federal government has moved to ensure Australian-made steel will be used in the construction of Australia’s conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines when they are built at Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, subject to a qualification process. The Australian Submarine Agency has entered into a contract with Australian steel manufacturer, Bisalloy Steels, for the qualification of Australian…
Republicans and Democrats have agreed to sell three Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in the early 2030s according to reports. The agreement would see the sale added to the US Congress’s National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. Democratic congressman Joe Courtney said: “For the first time since the launch of the USS…
The federal government has introduced the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023, which will establish a new, independent regulator to ensure Australia applies the highest standards of nuclear safety across its nuclear-powered submarine enterprise and can continue to implement AUKUS without delay. This is the second legislative package introduced to support implementation of the…
