Royal Australian Navy

Military

Ghost Shark: The huge stealth advantage of autonomous submarines

Australia's robotic submarine program takes delivery of its first Ghost Shark Extra-Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (XL-AUV) prototype – a machine that ditches the pressure hull and life support to gain an edge in size and stealth.

Military

BAE Systems wins £3.95-billion contract to start SSN-AUKUS sub work

The UK/US/Australian AUKUS nuclear attack submarine treaty is moving from diplomacy to nuts-and-bolts after the UK Ministry of Defence awarded a £3.95-billion contract to begin detailed design work and long-term procurement for the SSN-AUKUS-class boat.

Artist's concept of the AUKUS-class nuclear attack submarine

Military

Australia to receive new design nuclear submarine under AUKUS treaty

The US, UK, and Australian governments have outlined a plan to provide the Royal Australian Navy with nuclear-powered attack submarines, which includes the development of a new AUKUS-class submarine that will include American and British technology.

The agreement will replace the RAN's Collins class submarines with nuclear-powered boats

Military

Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines with US and UK tech

The United States, Britain, and Australia have announced a new defense cooperation agreement called the "AUKUS" alliance, which will include helping Australia build its own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines armed with conventional weapons.

"Cold spray" printing technology will be used to maintain Australia's fleet of Collins Class submarines

Military

Australia turns to 3D printing to maintain its submarine fleet

3D printing is set to go to sea in the form of an additive manufacturing technique for repairing submarines. Developed by Australia’s ASC, the cold spray printing technology is intended to repair the Royal Australian Navy's Collins Class submarines.

Survey data showing HMAS AE1 on the sea bed

Marine

Underwater drone finds Australia's first submarine lost for over a century

After 103 years, a robotic submarine has found the wreck of Australia's first submarine, HMAS-AE1, off the coast of the Duke of York Island group in Papua New Guinea using an advanced side-scan sonar system in a joint exercise by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and civilian search teams.

Nuship Canberra transiting the waters of Jervis Bay, New South Wales (Photo: RAN)

Military

Largest ship ever built for the Royal Australian Navy begins final sea trials

The largest ship ever built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has taken to sea as it begins its final contractor trials, The 27,800 tonne (30,600 ton) Nuship Canberra is the first of two Land Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships under construction for the Australian Defence Force.

A nuclear submarine could replace Austrlia's aging diesel fleet, such as HMAS Collins (Image: Royal Australian Navy)

Military

Report examines feasibility of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia

A green paper by University College London (UCL) published on August 12 argues that it is entirely feasible for Australia to replace its aging fleet of diesel submarines with nuclear-powered craft for about the same cost as a conventional design.