USS Hawaii departed perth today after it maintainence by a combined USN and RAN team based from the USS Emory L land maintainence ship


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....37740f6a69.jpg

Secretly briefed perhaps, but the article at the link you provided again says this was a DAY BEFORE the public announcement. I would hardly call that a way of gaining "concrete bipartisan support":

"...Yet the prime minister decided not to brief Labor leader Anthony Albanese for five months. He briefed him on the day before the deal was to be announced in a three-way piece of theatre with Morrison, Prime Minister Johnson and President Biden..."

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/cana...hina-concerns/

Canada eyes AUKUS membership over China concerns

Canada is actively engaging in discussions with the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States to join an expanded Aukus security partnership, citing rising concerns over China’s growing influence in the Asia Pacific region.

During a recent visit to Tokyo, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair expressed Ottawa’s commitment to counteracting Beijing’s increasing military presence in the region.

Canada is particularly focused on participating in the second phase of Aukus, which aims to foster collaboration on cutting-edge military technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. However, details of Canada’s role in this expansion remain unspecified.

“There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations, including Japan and ourselves, might participate,” Blair stated, during his meeting with Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara.

Japan is also considering its own role within Aukus. Blair expressed optimism about these negotiations, saying, “I would respectfully wait until they’ve come to their determination, but I’m very optimistic.”

The current phase of Aukus, established in 2021, focuses on helping Australia acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines. Blair’s trip to Japan followed a visit to South Korea, which is similarly exploring the possibility of participating in the security partnership.

Canada’s defence responsibilities are expanding both at home and abroad, and Blair highlighted the government’s efforts to increase military spending. “Next year, my defence budget will rise by 27% over this year. And… in the next three or four years, our defence spending will triple,” he remarked.

Beyond Aukus discussions, Blair and Kihara also addressed recent incursions by China into Japanese waters, which led Tokyo to issue formal protests to Beijing.

This weeks Economist is wondering how the RN will be able to send an SSN to operate out of Perth when we haven't managed to get one out of harbour here for a couple of months........... (allegedly)

It’s a fair question - the RN currently have no ability to dry dock an Astute class SSN.
The Faslane shiplift is reserved for Vanguard class SSBNs and the Devonport facilities are not yet ready. This is what happens when you keep delaying your support infrastructure spend because the equipment project is over budget.
This is why the RN are trying to source a floating dry dock.

The Economist reckoned the Faslane shiplift was also out of action for 12 months - it failed certification and the original maker had gone out of business.

Yeah the cables were failed on it, but they have managed to find /pay to be made new cables for it and it will be returned to service soon. Clyde is also getting 2 floating docks under Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability (AFTDC)

This article is full of the usual political statements but it does indicate that the necessary legislative changes are progressing well.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-h...s-partnership/

Politico London Playbook:

…”Keir Starmer is drawing up plans to visit Australia next month as part of a push to keep the AUKUS submarine pact afloat.

The prime minister is expected to speak to his counterpart Anthony Albanese in a multi-stop trip as he goes to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetingin Samoa.

It’s also a handy chance to chum up to the leader of another Labor Party … which faces a battle to keep power in next year’s Aussie election.

Top of the bill will be the U.S.-U.K. plan to help Australia get its first nuclear-powered submarine fleet, a bulwark against the rise of China.

Starmer and Biden discussed AUKUS on Friday and ex-national security adviser Stephen Lovegrove is leading a review that’s handily due to report next month.

Government officials insist they are four square behind AUKUS and minister Vernon Coaker claims it is making “significant progress,” despite wider complaints about U.K. defense spending under Starmer.”…..

Barrow-in-Furness and AUKUS: new R&D facility (Project SPARTAN) to go up in blue circle area; dark red was planned location of RAMSDEN hall proposal, since abandoned. The red square is land BAE acquired for the new hull cross-sections manufacture facility that succeeds RAMSDEN.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....dd337bf4c.jpeg

The new facilities to go up are expected to be significantly larger than RAMSDEN hall was. Hull sections built here are reportedly going to reach the Devonshire hall by barge, over the water. Hull sections containing the reactor will be built here for the Australian SSNs too.

The RAMSDEN hall (images 1 and 2) was going to be 66m wide by 175 long, with height approximately 45 m. The new facility is probably going to look quite different and might be even larger overall. ABP has offered a (very notional, non BAE-Systems made) notional image (3rd image).

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b547492aac.png


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....663bae380d.png


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....583a2a7114.png

Reactor integration work is carried out in buildings D58 and D59 behind Devonshire Dock Hall. These are brand new and i assume will of course handle SSN-Aukus work too. So australian submarine sections are likely to pass through the entire site before being shipped down south.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....582bb14ed.jpeg
​​​​​​​

there's a lot more space at Port Adelaide -

So frankly speaking, when will those Aussie subs be delivered ? I'm not talking about USN or RN ones on loan with a couple of australian sailors on board....

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....41f69a8cbb.jpg

Perhaps if you read a better article, than the musings of Andrew Fowler, you will easily see the the proposed dates.

Politico London Playbook:

In London, Defence Secretary John Healey will meet his American and Australian counterparts this afternoon to discuss the AUKUS pact. Healey, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Aussie Defence Minister Richard Marles will hold a press conference at 2.30 p.m…..

Healey and Marles will also launch talks over a bilateral U.K.-Australia treaty, which will outline how the two countries will cooperate in building AUKUS submarines…..

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-u...-missile-work/

UK, US and Australia ramp up hypersonic missile work

In a joint statement released on 26th September 2024, following a trilateral meeting at the Old Royal Naval College in London, the UK, US, and Australia reaffirmed their strategic commitment to the AUKUS partnership, emphasising their collective efforts to advance cutting-edge military technologies, particularly in the field of hypersonic weaponry. The defence ministers of the three nations discussed progress in developing advanced capabilities under Pillar II of the AUKUS agreement, focusing on long-range precision strike technologies to address global security challenges.

The joint statement revealed that all three nations are accelerating their efforts to develop offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities, marking a significant step forward in the AUKUS agenda. These hypersonic systems are designed to hold “time-critical and heavily defended targets at risk from increased ranges,” a critical capability in modern warfare. The development of hypersonic technology is expected to dramatically enhance the ability of AUKUS forces to strike targets at unprecedented speeds while increasing the survivability of their assets.

The trilateral collaboration involves a robust series of tests and experiments to co-develop hypersonic technologies, with a particular focus on delivering real-world effects such as strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The statement noted that “trilateral tests and experiments will accelerate the development of hypersonic concepts and critical enabling technologies,” ensuring that AUKUS nations remain at the forefront of this game-changing military technology.

In addition to hypersonics, the AUKUS partners are also exploring opportunities to scale up their combined efforts in undersea warfare, including the integration of uncrewed underwater systems launched from submarines. This collaboration aims to expand the operational reach of these systems, enhancing the ability of the UK, US, and Australia to conduct long-range precision strikes and gather crucial intelligence in contested maritime environments.

The statement highlighted the strategic importance of these advancements for AUKUS nations, noting that “our trilateral science and technology, acquisition and sustainment, and operational communities are working across the full spectrum of capability development—generating requirements, co-developing new systems, deepening industrial base collaboration, and bolstering our innovation ecosystems.” The aim is to ensure that the three nations are fully prepared to face emerging threats in a rapidly changing global security landscape.

As part of the hypersonic technology programme, the AUKUS partners are pooling their industrial and scientific expertise to create a robust joint force that can deliver advanced capabilities across multiple domains. The development of hypersonic weapons is a crucial component of the broader AUKUS strategy, with the statement noting that “these capabilities will hold time critical and heavily defended targets at risk from increased ranges, enhancing the survivability of our forces and defending our homelands and forces against potential threats.”

The AUKUS partnership has taken significant strides towards delivering a new generation of advanced military technologies, with hypersonic weaponry at the forefront of these efforts. The joint focus on hypersonics under Pillar II of AUKUS reflects the commitment of the UK, US, and Australia to maintain their technological edge and ensure the security of their respective nations and the broader Indo-Pacific region in the decades to come.

https://www.navylookout.com/6th-astu...he-build-hall/

6th Astute class submarine HMS Agamemnon rolled out of the build hall

HMS Agamemnon emerged from the Devonshire Dock Hall at Barrow today, marking the transition from the construction phase to the test and commissioning phase.

Following the roll out from the DDH, she will be lowered into the water on the shiplift and moved to the test and commissioning quay where her reactor will go critical for the first time.

She is also the 6th boat of the much-delayed Astute class and she will probably now commission next year, likely in the shipyard, well ahead of beginning sea trials, as was the case with HMS Anson.

It is important to note that the rollout frees up space needed in the DDH to begin the assembly of HMS Dreadnought, first of the much larger SSBNs that is due to be commissioned in the early 2030s.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c6a3a83aa5.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5cd58edd5b.jpg

Laid down 18th July 2013 - not exactly a quick build.....................

I believe the extended production process was deliberate to maintain the work force and design teams and avoid the lay-offs and hiatus and the problems that occured when having to restart production from scratch.

@ForgemastersHQ has signed contract to buy 2 new furnaces (made by NCS in the UK) for manufacturing components for SSN-AUKUS Submarine programme.

https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.co...stion-systems/

As part of a substantial recapitalisation programme, Sheffield Forgemasters has signed a contract for furnaces with Dewsbury-based Northern Combustion Systems (NCS).

NCS will supply two, bespoke, Top-Hat Furnaces for the Sheffield company’s new Forging Line under the multi-million GBP contract, which will enable the company to manufacture critical components for the UK/SSN-AUKUS submarine programmes and other key defence programmes.

Following a robust tender process, which considered cost, delivery and capabilities, NCS will deliver furnaces with a distinctive lift off cover appearance, with both furnaces adopting a hydraulically operated lift and a traverse cover for the heat treatment of long, forged components.

Craig Fisher, Programmes Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “Northern Combustion Systems has 40 years of experience in industrial furnaces manufacture and are providing Sheffield Forgemasters with two new high-efficient recuperative and modulating Top Hat furnaces.

“The furnaces will support our forging programme and the largest of the two includes an integral quench tank and is designed for longer forgings, while the smaller furnace will support ingot and bar heat treatments.”

Installation of the furnaces is scheduled for October 2025 and April 2027 as part of an investment programme to create new, unmatched facilities for the supply of defence-specific forgings and castings, and they will operate alongside seven larger furnaces.

Top Hat Furnaces feature a fixed hearth, with a removable cover, which contains the gas burners and refractory material.

The new Sheffield Forgemasters furnaces measure 11m long x 10m wide x 6m tall for the smaller of the two, and 30m long x 11m wide x 6m tall for the largest.

Another spanner in the works - is this a more optimal pathway? I don’t think so.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-...m_content=link