![]() ![]() The new subs will be built in South Australia, while Western Australia's HMAS Stirling is undergoing an $8 billion expansion.This article needs additional citations for verification. "I think if we're serious about developing a sovereign nuclear submarine capability, then in time, definitely, all parts of the ecosystem built and operated by Australians in Australia, that should be the aim point," he said.Īsked where it could be located, he said the "sensible approach" would be either Adelaide or Perth. More Australians are expected to follow in the footsteps of the first three graduates in Charleston, while Navy personnel are also training in the UK.īut Vice Admiral Hammond said Australia could eventually host its own training program. So we'll be focused very, very clearly on recruiting and retaining." Could Australia set up its own nuke school? "Every company, every organisation wants talent. "So it's a complex challenge, especially given the workforce environment back in Australia. "We were already focused on recruiting, increasing the size of the submarine force and then initially bleeding across in smaller numbers into the nuclear power program and then scaling up as we go," he said. Vice Admiral Hammond acknowledged the scale of the task confronting the Navy. Virginia-class submarines carry around 132 people, nearly three times the size of the crew onboard the Collins-class boats Australia has now.Īnd unlike the Collins, nuclear-powered subs do not need to surface regularly to recharge, meaning they can stay submerged for months at a time. "The difficulty might be in getting the numbers that you need to be able to man a nuclear submarine." "The submariners that come out of Australia are very smart, very capable, fully able to take on that challenge of becoming nuclear plant operators," said Mr Clark, who is also a former executive officer of one of the moored training ships in Charleston. The number of Australian submariners will also need to be increased, with nuclear-powered submarines carrying larger crews and requiring personnel trained to operate the reactor onboard. The federal government says AUKUS will create 20,000 jobs over 30 years across the Australian Defence Force, the public service and industry, including roles such as tradespeople, engineers and project managers. Years out from Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered subs, the graduation is an early step towards making AUKUS a reality.īut there are still major hurdles ahead when it comes to the broader workforce challenges presented by the plan. "And we've come a long way in such a short period of time but there's a lot more work to do." "Two years ago, this wasn't on the radar. "It's a historic event for our Navy, an historic event for our submarine force and I think it's an historic event for our nation," said Australia's Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. The training pipeline was established with the US as part of the AUKUS agreement, under which Australia will obtain its own nuclear-powered submarines. Three members of the Royal Australian Navy have graduated from the Nuclear Power School in South Carolina, more commonly known as 'nuke school'. ![]() In America's deep south, a group of students has just completed one of the most rigorous academic programs in the US military.Īnd for the first time, there were Australians among them. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |