DEFENCE CONNECT: Commonwealth, Industry partners reach SSN-AUKUS agreement – Stephen Kuper
The Australian and UK Governments have formalised the agreement between the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) and industry partners, BAE Systems and ASC Ltd, to support the delivery of Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered, SSN-AUKUS submarines. [By editor: These submarines for the Royal Australian Navy may well be the default option for Australia’s next submarine fleet if the U.S. Virginia class option for the first three of those submarines fails to eventuate for any reason.]
HMS Audacious, Royal Navy Astute class submarine
The ASA, BAE Systems, and ASC Pty Ltd have signed a Tasking Statement, a contractual agreement focused on developing a build strategy, supply chain management plans, and a workforce development strategy. Over the past eight months, government and industry partners have achieved significant progress in delivering the SSN-AUKUS program. In November, the ASA, BAE Systems, and ASC formalised an AUKUS Mobilisation Deed, establishing a framework for contracting with the Australian Government through the ASA. This followed the Heads of Agreement and the tri-lateral announcement of Australia’s designated shipbuilders in March.
This announcement comes while Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles and Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong are currently in the United Kingdom, meeting with their UK counterparts, Foreign Secretary, David Lammy and Defence Secretary, John Healey. As part of the joint statement on the 2024 Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meetings, the partners recognised the “significance of the mobilisation agreement signed last month between the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), BAE Systems Australia Submarines Pty Ltd and ASC SSN AUKUS Pty Ltd which will ensure work to build Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines can commence as quickly as possible.
In addition to this, the joint ministerial statement added, “They welcomed the announcement of the first Tasking Statements contracted underneath the tripartite mobilisation agreement on 16 December 2024, enabling the ASA, BAE Systems Australia Submarines Pty Ltd and ASC SSN-AUKUS Pty Ltd to work together to develop detailed plans, schedules and workforce initiatives for the Australian build program of the SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine. Ministers also welcomed the wide range of initiatives to deliver a more resilient and prosperous trilateral submarine supply chain in the UK and Australia, particularly including the initiation of the UK-focused effort under the AUKUS Defence Industry Vendor Qualification program.” 