After announcing a $4.3 billion investment in the development of the first large-vessel dry docking facility at Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Royal Australian Navy bases would host and support the operation of nuclear-powered submarines from the US Navy and Royal Navy under the AUKUS agreement.
Upgrades to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia and the construction of a new east coast naval base are expected to ensure SSNs from the US and UK can remain in Australian waters for “extended periods of time”, enabling them to “perform operations out of Australia”.
Defence has been tasked with commencing studies into the types of infrastructure and services required in Western Australia to support the more frequent presence of SSNs from AUKUS partners, with recommendations expected to be handed down later this year.
