SSN-AUKUS

Last updated

SSN-AUKUS submarine.jpg
Rendering of SSN-AUKUS submarine (BAE Systems)
Class overview
NameSSN-AUKUS, SSN-A
Builders
Operators
Preceded by
Built
  • Late 2020s (United Kingdom)
  • Late 2030s (Australia)
In service
  • Late 2030s (United Kingdom)
  • Early 2040s (Australia)
Planned
  • TBD (United Kingdom)
  • 5 (Australia) [1]
General characteristics (conceptual)
Type Nuclear attack submarine
DisplacementOver 10,000 tonnes (9,800 long tons)
PropulsionPWR nuclear reactor
Sensors and
processing systems		Evolved AN/BYG-1 Combat Management System
Armament Mk-48 torpedoes and missiles

The SSN-AUKUS, also known as the SSN-A, [2] is a planned class of nuclear-powered fleet submarine (SSN) intended to enter service with the United Kingdom's Royal Navy in the late 2030s and Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s. The class will replace the UK's Astute-class and Australia's Collins-class submarines. [3] [4]

Contents

The UK commenced an Astute class replacement project in 2018, which was later named the Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement (SSNR). [5] [6] [7] The ongoing SSNR design was renamed SSN-AUKUS in March 2023, under the 2021 AUKUS trilateral security partnership, when Australia joined the programme and additional US technology was incorporated into the design. [4] [8]

Australia plans to build five SSN-AUKUS submarines in addition to acquiring three nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines from the United States. [1] [9]

The class will be powered by Rolls-Royce's pressurised water reactors (PWR). [10] The submarines will displace over 10,000 tonnes. [11]

Development

UK SSNR

The United Kingdom began planning for the replacement of the Astute class of submarines in early 2018. Initially, the programme was known as the Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC). The concept phase was scheduled to last for three years to assess requirements and consider options but was suspended for two years due to delays in the Astute-class and Dreadnought-class delivery programmes. [12] In 2020, the Ministry of Defence recruited for a Submarine Delivery Agency Project Manager to work on the SSNR design and development process. [13] [14]

In March 2021, the government's defence paper Defence in a Competitive Age committed to funding the SSNR project. [15] This was followed in September 2021 by an investment of £170 million by the government in the form of two £85 million contracts to BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce Holdings for early design work on the SSNR. [7] [16] [17] The investment will support 350 jobs for the UK economy. [7]

In November 2022, MSubs Ltd was awarded a £15.4m contract to build an XLUUV (Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle) vessel which is to be delivered to the Royal Navy within two years. The 17-tonne vessel (known as Project CETUS) is described as being "the next step in developing autonomous underwater warfare capability" and is also to feed into the design of SSNR. [18]

In January 2023, it was reported that the submarines were likely to incorporate a vertical launch system (VLS) for land-attack missiles. This would be a first for Royal Navy SSNs, which currently launch land-attack missiles via their torpedo tubes. A VLS system was described as likely to increase interoperability options with the US Navy since future US land attack missiles may not have a horizontal launch option. [19]

AUKUS

Following an 18-month consultation starting in September 2021, the design was renamed SSN-AUKUS in March 2023 when Australia joined the programme and additional US technology was incorporated, both as part of the AUKUS agreement. [8] The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in March 2023 that the UK would boost defense spending by additional £5 billion over two years, some of which would go towards funding "the next phase of the AUKUS submarine programme." [20]

The first SSN-AUKUS class boat for the Royal Navy will commence construction in Barrow in Furness as early as the late 2020s and is expected to be operational as early as the late 2030s. [21] The Royal Navy boats will be built by BAE Systems. [20] [22] As of 2023, the workforce at Barrow in Furness was being expanded from 10,000 to 17,000 to support both the Dreadnought class program and the SSN-AUKUS class. [23]

The SSN-AUKUS class will be powered by a Rolls-Royce pressurised water reactor (PWR), manufactured at an expanded Rolls Royce Raynesway site in Derby. [10] [24] [25] Australia is to invest A$4.6 billion (£2.4 billion) to allow the expansion of Rolls Royce's Derby site, and alongside funding from the UK Ministry of Defence, the site will double in size creating a further 1170 jobs needed to support the delivery of the Australian boats. [26] [27]

In October 2023, the UK government announced a series of contracts with BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock, collectively worth £4 billion, to support the design and development of the submarine class up to 2028. These contracts will fund the finalization of the submarine design, as well as procure long-lead items for the first UK submarine. [28] [29]

The Royal Australian Navy will acquire five SSN-AUKUS class boats that will be built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. [1] [9] [30] A new submarine construction yard will be constructed at Osborne to be known as the Submarine Construction Yard. [31] [32] The Royal Australian Navy boats will be built by a joint venture between ASC, who constructed and maintain the Collins class, and BAE Systems. [33] The building of the first boat is to begin by the end of the 2030s with the boat delivered in the early 2040s. [34] [35] [30] A boat will be built every three years. [30]

Australia will operate two submarine classes, and if the build schedule for the SSN-AUKUS falls behind, has the option of purchasing up to two additional Virginia class boats from the United States. [36] [37] As a non-nuclear weapon state under the IAEA, [38] Australia will not produce nuclear fuel for its SSNs. [39] The UK and US intend to provide Australia with nuclear material in complete, welded nuclear power units. [39]

In March 2023, Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead, head of the Australian Nuclear Powered Submarine Task Force, said the SSN-AUKUS design was "about 70 per cent mature". [40]

The SSN-AUKUS class "will incorporate US technology such as propulsion plant systems and components, a common vertical launch system and weapons", [41] and "will have a high degree of commonality" with the Virginia class, including "sharing elements of the propulsion plant, combat system and weapons", enhancing interoperability and Australia's transition to SSN-AUKUS. [42]

In November 2023, Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the submarines would use an "evolved" version of the AN/BYG1 Combat Management System in use with the Virginia-class and Collins-class and will be armed with Mk-48 torpedoes. [43]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. The Chief of Navy is also jointly responsible to the Minister for Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence, which is a part of the Australian Public Service, administers the ADF, and ergo, the Royal Australian Navy. In 2023, the Surface Fleet Review was introduced to outline the future of the Navy.

<i>Virginia</i>-class submarine US Navy fast attack submarine class

The Virginia class, or the SSN-774 class, is the newest class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The class is designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations. They are scheduled to replace older Los Angeles-class submarines, many of which have already been decommissioned. Virginia-class submarines will be acquired through 2043, and are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later submarines expected to operate into the 2070s.

<i>Vanguard</i>-class submarine Royal Navy ballistic missile submarine class

The Vanguard class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) in service with the Royal Navy. The class was introduced in 1994 as part of the Trident nuclear programme, and comprises four vessels: Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance, built between 1986 and 1999 at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, now owned by BAE Systems. All four boats are based at HM Naval Base Clyde , 40 km (25 mi) west of Glasgow, Scotland.

<i>Astute</i>-class submarine Class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines

The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines (SSNs) in service with the Royal Navy. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarines at Barrow-in-Furness. Seven boats will be constructed: the first of class, Astute, was launched by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in 2007, commissioned in 2010, and declared fully operational in May 2014. The Astute class is the replacement for the Trafalgar-class fleet submarines in Royal Navy service.

HMS <i>Ambush</i> (S120) Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Ambush is an Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy, the second boat of her class.

HMS Artful is the third Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the British Royal Navy. She is the second submarine of the Royal Navy to bear this name. Artful was ordered from GEC's Marconi Marine on 17 March 1997, and was constructed at Barrow in Furness. She was named on 20 September 2013, was rolled out of the shipyard construction hall on 16 May 2014, and was due to start sea trials in early 2015. Artful made her first successful basin dive in October 2014, and sailed on 13 August 2015 for sea trials. Artful was handed over the Royal Navy on 14 December 2015, and commissioned on 18 March 2016.

The Rolls-Royce pressurised water reactor (PWR) series has powered the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines since the Valiant class, commissioned in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future of the Royal Navy</span>

Future planning of the Royal Navy's capabilities is set through periodic Defence Reviews carried out by the British Government.

The Suffren class is a class of nuclear attack submarines, designed by the French shipbuilder Naval Group for the French Navy. It is intended to replace the Rubis-class submarines. Construction began in 2007 and the first unit was commissioned on 6 November 2020. The lead boat of the class, Suffren, entered service on 3 June 2022.

The Royal Australian Navy, although a significant force in the Asia-Pacific region, is nonetheless classed as a medium-sized navy. Its fleet is based around two main types of surface combatant, with limited global deployment and air power capability. However, in 2009, a white paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was produced by the Australian government which set out a programme of defence spending that will see significant improvements to the RAN's fleet and capabilities. In recent times, Australia released its Surface Fleet Review in 2024, which analyses the future of the RAN and shows what the Government will procure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Navy Submarine Service</span> One of the five fighting arms of the British Royal Navy

The Royal Navy Submarine Service is one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. It is sometimes known as the Silent Service, as submarines are generally required to operate undetected.

<i>Dreadnought</i>-class submarine Class of British nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines

The Dreadnought class is the future replacement for the Royal Navy's Vanguard class of ballistic missile submarines. Like their predecessors they will carry Trident II D-5 missiles. The Vanguard submarines entered service in the United Kingdom in the 1990s with an intended service life of 25 years. Their replacement is necessary for maintaining a continuous at-sea deterrent (CASD), the principle of operation behind the Trident system.

HMS <i>Audacious</i> (S122) Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Audacious is the fourth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy. Several previous vessels of the Royal Navy have borne the name. She was formally named on 16 December 2016 and was launched on 28 April 2017. Audacious was stated to be handed over in January 2021. A parliamentary written answer stated that Audacious was commissioned on 3 April 2020, but her public ceremonial commissioning took place on 23 September 2021.

HMS <i>Anson</i> (S123) Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Anson is the fifth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy. She is the eighth vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name, after Admiral George Anson.

HMS <i>Agamemnon</i> (S123) Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Agamemnon is the sixth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy and is currently under construction. She will be the sixth vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name, after the legendary Greek king Agamemnon.

HMS <i>Agincourt</i> (S125) Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Agincourt is an Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine under construction for the Royal Navy and the seventh in her class. The boat's name was confirmed in May 2018, having previously held the in-work name of Ajax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osborne Naval Shipyard</span>

The Osborne Naval Shipyard is a Royal Australian Navy multi-user facility on the Lefevre Peninsula, at Osborne, South Australia. It is the most advanced shipbuilding facility in both Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. The facility has produced a range of major surface combatants and submerged vessels such as Destroyers, Frigates, Patrol boats and Submarines for the Royal Australian Navy fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AUKUS</span> Australia–UK–US security partnership

AUKUS, also styled as Aukus, is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States intended to "promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable." Initially announced on 15 September 2021, the partnership involves two lines of effort referred to as pillars. Pillar 1 focuses on Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines and the rotational basing of US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines in Australia. Pillar 2 entails the collaborative development of advanced capabilities in six technological areas: undersea capabilities, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomy, advanced cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare; and in two broader functional areas: innovation and information sharing.

The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), formerly the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Task Force (NPSTF) is the federal statutory agency of the Commonwealth Government responsible for guiding Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program. The ASA was established in July 2023 as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the Department of Defence consisting of defence personnel and Australian public servants.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Briggs, Peter (12 October 2023). "How many nuclear-powered submarines for Australia?". The Strategist — Australian Strategic Policy Institute . Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace (28 June 2023). "Astute Replacement Programme: Contingent Liability". UK Parliament Hansard. House of Commons. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Heappey, James (6 February 2020). "HMS Audacious - Ministry of Defence written question – answered on 6th February 2020". www.theyworkforyou.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2021. We remain committed to delivering all seven Astute boats by the end of 2026
  4. 1 2 "Australia to buy US submarines to bridge gap before UK-design boats". Financial Times. 9 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC) Industry Day, 10 October 2018". Defence Contracts Online. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019.
  6. ↑ Submarine Delivery Agency (March 2021). "Corporate Plan 2020-2023" (PDF). GOV.UK. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "Design work begins on successor to Astute-class submarines in £170m deal". Royal Navy. 17 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  8. 1 2 The White House (13 March 2023). "Fact Sheet: Trilateral Australia-UK-US Partnership on Nuclear-Powered Submarines". The White House (Press release). Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Much more detail on submarine deal". Australian Naval Institute . 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Nuclear reactors from Rolls-Royce to power Australian submarines". Rolls-Royce (Press release). 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  11. ↑ Nicholson, Brendan (28 May 2024). "AUKUS subs 'bigger, better, bolder'" . The Australian . News Corp Australia. p. 1. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "The future of Royal Navy attack submarines". www.navylookout.com. Navy Lookout. 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "SDA Project Manager". matchtech.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  14. ↑ Sutton, H (8 December 2019). "New Intelligence On The Secretive Next Generation British Attack Submarine: SSNR". Forbes . Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "Defence in a competitive age" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. March 2021. p. 54. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Submarines: £170m investment for next generation guarantees 350 jobs". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 17 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "£170-million investment for the next generation of Royal Navy submarines". www.gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 17 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "Royal Navy purchases its first uncrewed submarine | Navy Lookout". December 2022. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "Britain's New Attack Submarine To Be First With VLS". Naval News. 19 January 2023. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  20. 1 2 UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg  This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence  v3.0: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak; Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace (13 March 2023). "British-led design chosen for AUKUS submarine project". GOV.UK (Press release). Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  21. ↑ Ministry of Defence 2023, p. 7.
  22. ↑ "BAE Systems to play a key role in the delivery of AUKUS submarines". BAE Systems (Press release). 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  23. ↑ "Australia to join Royal Navy SSN(R) submarine programme". Navy Lookout. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  24. ↑ Mustoe, Howard (13 March 2023). "Rolls-Royce to make nuclear reactors for Aukus attack submarines". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  25. ↑ "Rolls-Royce Submarines to create jobs and expand site in Derby". www.rolls-royce.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  26. ↑ Fildes, Nic; Pfeifer, Sylvia (21 March 2024). "Australia and UK sign defence treaty in face of rising Chinese power" . Financial Times .
  27. ↑ UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg  This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence  v3.0: Ministry of Defence; Submarine Delivery Agency; Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps. "UK firm appointed to build Australian AUKUS submarines". GOV.UK (Press release). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  28. ↑ "£4 Billion UK contracts progresses AUKUS submarine design". GOV.UK (Press release). Ministry of Defence. 1 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "£3.95bn awarded for next phase of AUKUS submarine programme". BAE systems (Press release). 1 October 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  30. 1 2 3 Minister for Defence Richard Marles (22 March 2023). "AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT". Department of Defence Ministers. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Osborne Submarine Construction Yard". Australian Submarine Agency. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  32. ↑ "South Australia reaches land-swap deal with federal government". ABC News. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  33. ↑ Minister for Defence Richard Marles; Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy (22 March 2024). "AUKUS build and sustainment partners announced". Department of Defence Ministers (Press release).
  34. ↑ Galloway, Anthony (14 March 2023). "Eight submarines, three decades, up to $368 billion: Australia's historic AUKUS plan at a glance". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  35. ↑ UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg  This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence  v3.0: Ministry of Defence; Defence Nuclear Organisation (14 March 2023). "The AUKUS Nuclear Powered-Submarine Pathway: A Partnership for the Future" (PDF). pp. 7, 28. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  36. ↑ Stewart, Cameron (14 March 2023). "Big gamble, but even bigger benefits in AUKUS subs" . The Australian . Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  37. ↑ Defence Minister Richard Marles; Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy (14 March 2023). "Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra". Department of Defence Ministers. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  38. ↑ "Director General Statement in Relation to AUKUS Announcement". International Atomic Energy Agency. 14 March 2023. 26/2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  39. 1 2 Ministry of Defence 2023, p. 35.
  40. ↑ Ferguson, Sarah; Begley, Patrick (14 March 2023). "Nuclear submarines needed as region has become 'less stable', AUKUS task force head says". The 7.30 Report . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  41. ↑ Ministry of Defence 2023, p. 23.
  42. ↑ Ministry of Defence 2023, p. 29.
  43. ↑ Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy (28 November 2023). "Address to the National Press Club". Department of Defence Ministers. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.