https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a...subs-dd60qm793
Australians to train in UK nuclear subs
Submariners from Australia will be allowed to train inside Britain’s nuclear-powered submarines and access sensitive technology that has been kept secret from foreign nations for decades, it can be revealed.….
Under the plans being discussed by British and Australian ministers today, naval officers would be allowed to see nuclear engineering at work for the first time.… A Royal Navy source said: “We protect UK technology very closely. This a first-time agreement where we can give Australians access to that. It’s a really big gift.”…
Richard Marles, Australia’s deputy prime minister and defence minister will join Boris Johnson and Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, in the northwest of England today to attend the commissioning ceremony for HMS Anson, the fifth of seven new Astute-class attack submarines, and to discuss co-operation between their nations…..
The training is likely to take place on the UK’s £1.4 billion Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines, rather than the Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines because they have the newest reactor technology. Some of the training could be restricted to four months but other courses could last several years.
The source said that Australian submariners could even potentially embed with the Royal Navy on its submarines. It is understood that no extra security vetting will be deemed necessary.
Marles said that his government had not yet decided which nuclear- powered submarines — British or American — were best to replace Australia’s ageing conventional submarine fleet. He said he was planning to announce the choice early next year.