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The Australian Submarine Agency has assessed four of its seven performance measures as fully achieved and the remainder substantially achieved as the agency prepares for the commencement of Submarine Rotational Force - West at HMAS Stirling next year.
The Australian Submarine Agency Annual Report 2025–26 has now been tabled in Parliament, outlining significant progress in delivering the AUKUS Optimal Pathway and preparing for Submarine Rotational Force - West in 2027.
“The ASA’s third year of operation has reflected a clear shift from establishing the foundations to delivering capability across one of the most complex national endeavours Australia has ever undertaken,” said Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead AO RAN, Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency.
“None of this progress would be possible without the dedication of our people and the contribution of our partners across government, industry, academia and the broader Defence enterprise.
“Together, we are laying the foundations for a sovereign nuclear-powered submarine capability that will strengthen Australia’s security and contribute to national prosperity for generations to come.”
The report highlighted that two submarine maintenance periods have been completed at HMAS Stirling, involving USS Vermont and HMS Anson.
HMS Anson was the first maintenance period conducted on a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine in Australia, while USS Vermont marked the first time a US nuclear-powered submarine underwent a maintenance period in Australia without a US support ship.
More than 620 hours of trilateral uniformed workforce effort were delivered under HMS Anson’s maintenance period. Seventeen Australian businesses participated and 34 locally manufactured components were produced with more than 2,500 hours of industry support provided.
Key achievements included 26 prototyping contracts awarded to Australian suppliers under the AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy and 12 Australian companies progressed through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification Program.
Program areas of Virginia Class acquisition preparation, technical workforce deployment and HMAS Stirling/SRF-West were listed as substantially achieved.
Program areas of SSN-AUKUS mobilisation and Osborne, international agreements, nuclear safeguards, nuclear stewardship and regulation were listed as achieved.
The ASA’s workforce continues to expand, reaching 1,034 personnel by 30 June 2026, comprising 922 Australian Public Service employees and 112 Australian Defence Force personnel.
Other workforce developments include 200 RAN personnel undertaking naval nuclear propulsion training, 238 ASC personnel participating in training at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, 70 Australian submariners serving aboard US Virginia Class submarines and 37 Australian personnel embedded within US and UK organisations, including 18 placements during 2025–26.
The report also identified the requirement for an Australian contingency dry-dock capability to undertake emergency out-of-water repairs before a permanent depot-level maintenance capability is established at Henderson. The ASA contracted Leidos Gibbs and Cox Australia in June 2026 to undertake design services for this contingency capability.
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