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Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has met with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps to tour Roll-Royce’s nuclear reactor manufacturing site in Derby.
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Marles met with Australian industry representatives currently undertaking three-week rotations at Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Babcock within the United Kingdom defence industry.
The Deputy Prime Minister also toured the Rolls-Royce facility and saw the first nuclear propulsion plant components being fabricated for the UK’s SSN-AUKUS program. Rolls-Royce will deliver complete and welded nuclear power units for the Australian-built SSN-AUKUS submarines to be operated by the Royal Australian Navy.
“The development of Australia’s workforce to build, sustain, and operate our conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines is well underway,” according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
“Australia is working closely with the UK and the US to progressively develop the skills, knowledge, and expertise to safely and securely build, operate, and maintain nuclear-powered submarines.
“I was encouraged meeting these Australians who are so energised and excited by the opportunity to learn and the potential to be involved in Australia’s own nuclear-powered submarine program.
“I thank the UK and the US for their commitment through AUKUS to transferring not just their technology, but also their skills, knowledge, and expertise for the safe and successful delivery of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.
“These Australian industry placements provide us with an invaluable opportunity to learn from our experienced partners in and to better understand the functions and scope of this work.”
Australian industry personnel are currently undertaking placement within the United Kingdom defence industry over the nine-week program to develop the workforce required to build and sustain our conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines and uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and security.
Deputy PM Marles has previously travelled to the United States and the United Kingdom this week to discuss shared security objectives. He is currently undertaking critical engagements to further progress Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, as well as build on progress made at AUSMIN 2023 in Australia in July and last week by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Discussions continue to modernise the Australia–UK relationship, deepening defence and security collaboration in support of global peace and security and realising the shared commitments under the AUKUS partnership.
“This is a valuable opportunity to meet with my counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom and to build on the strong progress we have made on Australia’s acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines,” according to Deputy PM Marles.
“Australia’s alliance with the United States is unprecedented in scale, scope, and significance and I look forward to building on our productive discussions at AUSMIN in July.
“The visit to the United Kingdom will be an important opportunity to meet my counterparts, Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps and Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, to discuss increased cooperation across the breadth of our relationship.
“I look forward to attending the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit in London and working with global leaders to discuss both the opportunities and risks surrounding this transformative technology.”
