First Australian Sailors Complete Training to Serve on Nuclear Submarines

Eight Royal Australian Navy sailors have graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Training Unit, becoming the first Australians qualified to operate reactors and related systems aboard nuclear-powered submarines, the U.S. Naval Institute reported.

The sailors completed the six-month course on April 18 during a ceremony aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10).

Their training covered mathematics, nuclear physics, reactor principles, and nuclear reactor technology.

The skills acquired will allow them to independently operate nuclear submarine systems or integrate into American crews.

The training started in fall 2024 and is part of a broader trilateral agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia under the AUKUS security pact.

Australia will receive several U.S. Virginia-class nuclear submarines as an interim solution while awaiting the completion of the jointly developed SSN-AUKUS submarines.

Cooperation between American and Australian submariners in the Indo-Pacific has intensified over the past few years.

Last spring, the tender USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) hosted 37 Royal Australian Navy sailors in Guam, where they received maintenance training and practical experience.

This phase preceded the arrival of USS Hawaii (SSN-776) at HMAS Stirling, Australia’s main submarine base, and formed part of the broader preparation for Australian crews to transition to nuclear-powered platforms.

“Six officers previously completed prototype training, each performing exceptionally well. I fully expect these recent graduates, especially our first enlisted personnel, will excel in the fleet,” Capt. Robert Rose, Commander of NPTU Charleston, reported on the milestone event in a press release.

Australia’s Transition to Nuclear Submarines

Australia’s shift to nuclear submarines began on September 15, 2021, with the announcement of the AUKUS security alliance.

A major component of the pact was the United States’ decision to share nuclear propulsion technology with Australia, allowing it to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Within the agreement, Australia plans to purchase at least three Virginia-class submarines from the United States in the 2030s, with an option for two additional boats if necessary.

These submarines, sourced from the U.S. Navy’s fleet, will maintain Australia’s submarine capability until the first SSN-AUKUS boats enter service.

The SSN-AUKUS submarine will be fully designed in the United Kingdom, including its nuclear reactor, but will be equipped with American combat systems and weapons, reflecting Australia’s strong defense ties with U.S. industry and its use of U.S.-made military systems.