ASC Personnel Begin Submarine Maintenance Training at Pearl Harbor Under AUKUS Agreement

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – In a significant step forward for the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) enhanced trilateral security partnership, twenty-eight personnel from ASC Pty Ltd commenced submarine maintenance training at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) this week.

The training is part of AUKUS Pillar 1, which supports Australia’s acquisition of sovereign conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The ASC employees will undergo comprehensive training and certification in various aspects of submarine maintenance to prepare them for future responsibilities.

“After months of preparation, we are excited to welcome the Australian maintainers into our shipyard family. The intensive training process they will undergo over the next few years will lay the groundwork for them to ultimately lead and execute their own maintenance operations,” said Capt. Ryan McCrillis, commanding officer of PHNSY & IMF.

In July 2023, PHNSY & IMF was designated as the Naval Supervising Authority and Lead Maintenance Activity for the Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-W) at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Starting as early as 2027, SRF-W will host up to four U.S. Virginia-class submarines and one UK Astute-class submarine. Routine intermediate maintenance work will be executed by ASC’s trained workforce, certified by PHNSY & IMF personnel.

“Conducting joint training and working side-by-side with our Australian colleagues is critical to building the essential knowledge needed to fully support SRF-W,” McCrillis added.

Training and Collaboration

The first cohort of ASC personnel will receive a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on experience, covering radiological controls, nuclear engineering, non-nuclear engineering, and quality assurance. The training durations will vary based on the specific trades and disciplines being taught. Once completed, the ASC personnel will return to Australia qualified to conduct Virginia-class maintenance under U.S. supervision during routine U.S. submarine port visits to HMAS Stirling. Over the next twelve months, more than 100 ASC personnel are expected to start training at PHNSY & IMF.

Rear Adm. Matt Buckley, Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability within the Australian Submarine Agency, emphasized the importance of this training for Australia’s future submarine force. “We are learning from the best to develop our own world-class sovereign nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarine force,” he said.

Strategic Importance

The AUKUS partnership is a strategic endeavor to enhance the military capabilities of the joint force and strengthen regional partnerships. Rear Adm. Lincoln Reifsteck, program manager of the AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Office, highlighted the long-standing commitment of the AUKUS partners to preserving democracy and maintaining an international rules-based order.

PHNSY & IMF is also expanding its workforce to support the increased training demand. “The shipyard is growing, so we will continue to hire to meet the needs of our fleet while adding additional personnel to support the increased training demand,” said McCrillis. This expansion not only supports Australia’s goal to build a sovereign SSN capability but also benefits the U.S. Navy mission in the Indo-Pacific.

About PHNSY & IMF

PHNSY & IMF is a field activity of NAVSEA and a one-stop regional maintenance center for the Navy’s surface ships and submarines. It is the largest industrial employer in the state of Hawai’i, with a combined civilian and military workforce of approximately 6,400. Strategically located in the Pacific, PHNSY & IMF is crucial for fleet repair and maintenance, positioned about a week’s steaming time closer to potential regional contingencies in the Indo-Pacific.

The AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Program Office oversees the trilateral partnership to support Australia’s acquisition of sovereign, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines while maintaining the highest nuclear stewardship and nonproliferation standards.

For more information on AUKUS Pillar 1 and the Optimal Pathway, visit Trilateral Australia-UK-US Partnership on Nuclear-Powered Submarines.