SSN-AUKUS

The SSN-AUKUS, also known as the SSN-A,[3] 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 2040s. The class will replace the UK's Astute class and Australia's Collins class submarines.[4][5]

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)[2]
General characteristics (conceptual)
TypeNuclear attack submarine
PropulsionPWR3 nuclear reactor
ArmamentTorpedoes and missiles

The UK commenced an Astute class replacement project in 2018 that assessed requirements and considered options known as the Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC) that was later renamed the Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement (SSNR).[6][7][8] 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.[5][9]

Australia plans to build five SSN-AUKUS submarines in addition to acquiring three nuclear-powered Virginia class submarines from the United States.[2][10]

The class will be powered by Rolls-Royce's pressurised water reactors (PWR).[11]

Development

The initial concept phase of the programme was scheduled to last for three years. This phase had begun in early 2018 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.[8][16][17] The investment will support 350 jobs for the UK economy.[8]

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.[9] 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.[11][24][25]

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.[26][27]

The Royal Australian Navy will acquire five SSN-AUKUS class boats that will be built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.[2][10][28] The building of the first boat is to begin by the end of the 2030s with the boat delivered in the early 2040s.[29][30][28] A boat will be built every three years.[28]

The Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles in March 2023 said that the Australian government would determine the builder "over the course of the next year".[1] 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 boats from the United States.[31][1] As a non-nuclear weapon state under the IAEA,[32] Australia will not produce nuclear fuel for its SSNs.[33] The UK and US intend to provide Australia with nuclear material in complete, welded nuclear power units.[33]

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".[34]

The SSN-AUKUS class "will incorporate US technology such as propulsion plant systems and components, a common vertical launch system and weapons", [35] 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.[36]

See also

References
  1. Defence Minister Richard Marles; Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy (14 March 2023). "Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra". Department of Defence Ministers. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. Briggs, Peter (12 October 2023). "How many nuclear-powered submarines for Australia?". The Strategist — Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace (28 June 2023). "Astute Replacement Programme: Contingent Liability". UK Parliament Hansard. House of Commons. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  4. Heappey, James (6 February 2020). "HMS Audacious - Ministry of Defence written question – answered on 6th February 2020". www.theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021. We remain committed to delivering all seven Astute boats by the end of 2026
  5. "Australia to buy US submarines to bridge gap before UK-design boats". Financial Times. 9 March 2023.
  6. "Maritime Underwater Future Capability (MUFC) Industry Day, 10 October 2018". Defence Contracts Online. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019.
  7. Submarine Delivery Agency (March 2021). "Corporate Plan 2020-2023" (PDF). GOV.UK. p. 11. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  8. "Design work begins on successor to Astute-class submarines in £170m deal". Royal Navy. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  9. The White House (13 March 2023). "Fact Sheet: Trilateral Australia-UK-US Partnership on Nuclear-Powered Submarines". The White House (Press release). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  10. "Much more detail on submarine deal". Australian Naval Institute. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  11. "Nuclear reactors from Rolls-Royce to power Australian submarines". Rolls-Royce (Press release). 13 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  12. "The future of Royal Navy attack submarines". www.navylookout.com. Navy Lookout. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  13. "SDA Project Manager". matchtech.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  14. Sutton, H (8 December 2019). "New Intelligence On The Secretive Next Generation British Attack Submarine: SSNR". Forbes. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  15. "Defence in a competitive age" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. March 2021. p. 54. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  16. "Submarines: £170m investment for next generation guarantees 350 jobs". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 17 September 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. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  18. https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-purcases-its-first-uncrewed-submarine/
  19. "Britain's New Attack Submarine To Be First With VLS". Naval News. 19 January 2023.
  20. This article contains OGL licensed text 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). 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. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  23. "Australia to join Royal Navy SSN(R) submarine programme". Navy Lookout. 13 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. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  25. "Rolls-Royce Submarines to create jobs and expand site in Derby". www.rolls-royce.com. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  26. "£4 Billion UK contracts progresses AUKUS submarine design". GOV.UK (Press release). Ministry of Defence. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  27. "£3.95bn awarded for next phase of AUKUS submarine programme". BAE systems (Press release). 1 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  28. Minister for Defence Richard Marles (22 March 2023). "AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT". Department of Defence Ministers. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  29. 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. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  30. This article contains OGL licensed text 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. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  31. Stewart, Cameron (14 March 2023). "Big gamble, but even bigger benefits in AUKUS subs". The Australian. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  32. "Director General Statement in Relation to AUKUS Announcement". International Atomic Energy Agency. 14 March 2023. 26/2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  33. Ministry of Defence 2023, p. 35.
  34. 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. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  35. Ministry of Defence 2023, p. 23.
  36. Ministry of Defence 2023, p. 29.
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