Australian Navy Personnel to Train onboard UK Submarine, Strengthens AUKUS Partnership

As part of enhancing cooperation under the AUKUS pact, United Kingdom’s defence minister, Boris Johnson and  Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace announced the training of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) submariners aboard the newly commissioned HMS Anson, UK’s Astute-class submarine.

Having Royal Australian Navy submariners train alongside Royal Navy crews, is an important step, taken with partners in the United Kingdom to further strengthen Australia’s defence ties, said a statement from Australian Department of  Defence.

“Australia is embarking on the next generation of submarines and in doing so, ensuring we have Royal Australian Navy personnel training with our partners under the AUKUS partnership,” said the statement.

Ealier, Australia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Richard Marles was hosted by Prime Minister Johnson and Secretary Wallace at the commissioning of HMS Anson at BAE Systems facility at  Barrow.

“Australia is eager to learn from our counterparts, and who better to learn from than our friends in the United Kingdom,” said Deputy Prime Minister Marles.

“Our countries are working hand in glove on training and building the skills required for our future submarines, is an important part of bolstering our defence force.

“Today‘s announcement of Australian submariners training aboard HMS Anson says everything about our future plans of building the AUKUS partnership.

AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to enhance their military capabilities here in the Asia-Pacific region. Under the pact, the US and the UK will share advanced defence technologies and equipping Australian forces with the know-how to build nuclear-powered submarines.

It is said that under the AUKUS pact, the US and UK will help Australia build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines. –shp/adj/aaa (Image: Royal Navy)