In a landmark achievement under the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) security partnership, seven enlisted sailors from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have graduated from the United States Navy’s Nuclear Power School.
The sailors, accompanied by a group of RAN officers who also completed the program, represent a significant step toward Australia’s plan to establish a sovereign conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) fleet by the early 2030s.
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of Navy, praised the graduates for completing the intensive program.
“Naval Nuclear Power training is exceptionally rigorous, and to have seven Australian sailors and five officers complete the program takes us another step closer to operating our own SSNs,” Vice Admiral Hammond said.
The sailors have been undergoing training at the Nuclear Power School since October 2023, studying the scientific and engineering principles necessary for the design, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion systems.
They trained alongside American and British counterparts, reinforcing the trilateral collaboration within AUKUS.
The graduates will now advance to the United States Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, which specialises in preparing officers, enlisted sailors, and civilians for the operation and maintenance of nuclear-powered vessels in the U.S. Navy’s fleet.
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency, emphasised the importance of these milestones for AUKUS and Australia’s future SSN capability.
“Thirty-seven months after AUKUS’ inception, we are well on our way to developing Australia’s SSN capability,” Vice Admiral Mead said.
“Last month, Australian sailors completed the first SSN maintenance period on our shores. Today, we celebrate the graduation of the first enlisted personnel from an exceptionally demanding school. We already have Australian officers serving aboard US and UK SSNs.”
RAN personnel are currently embedded in various stages of the US Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine training program, acquiring essential skills and experience aboard Virginia-class submarines.
According to the government, the involvement of Australian sailors on US submarines marks a critical step toward equipping Australia with the expertise needed to operate its own fleet of Virginia-class SSNs, which the nation is expected to acquire and operate by the early 2030s.
