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Australian submariners gain engineer qualifications after serving with Royal Navy Astute-class boats
19 March 2025
The first of the inaugural cohort of Australian submariners have qualified to serve on Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines as nuclear engineers.
The sailors from the Royal Australian Navy are the first cohort to qualify within the UK training system as part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to AUKUS, the trilateral defence and security partnership between the UK, Australia and USA.
The training will support Australia’s journey towards safely operating nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines.
After two years of training serving at sea or on shore on the Astute-class submarines, this is the final step to becoming fully fledged Marine Engineering Officers (Submarine).
The qualification means they can deploy on UK submarines as Marine Engineering Officers of the Watch and be responsible for the boats’ nuclear engineering systems, permitting them to run the engineering watch onboard a UK SSN.
More Australian submariners are already following in the footsteps of Lieutenant Commander James, Lieutenant Isabella and Lieutenant Steve undergoing training in the UK with further groups planned for the future.
The Royal Navy also is delivering training in Australia. Last year alone, it provided professional and general naval nuclear propulsion instruction for more than 250 Australian personnel.
Lt Steve said: “The nuclear training pipeline is rightfully challenging due to responsibilities that you have as a trained officer.
“It takes two years to reach trained strength, but you have confidence that you’ve got a solid foundation of knowledge to tackle the challenges of the role.
“Having come to the other side of the formal training, it’s nice to be able to put that training into practice and continue building my knowledge on how to do the job of an Astute-class marine engineer.”
Having come to the other side of the formal training, it’s nice to be able to put that training into practice and continue building my knowledge
And one moment that stood out for him: “One of the highlights was my first time taking a reactor critical – bringing a reactor back online after a shutdown, it’s an extremely safe and controlled activity, with all the personnel involved having completed the activity many times before either on live plants or in simulators.
“It’s such a significant thing to do. And despite knowing exactly what to expect from it, you still come out thinking ‘what, that’s it?’.”
Steve has been supported through his training and life in the UK by his partner and their three-year-old son, who also live in the UK.
“Separation, whether at sea, during courses in other parts of the country, or during his family's visits back to Australia, has been challenging.
“The periods of separation are always difficult but I have had their unwavering support throughout and completing the training has been something I can give back to them and say it was worth it,” he added.
“I think almost everyone who goes through this training has their own individual challenge, whether it be the academics side of the training, the dedication of time or just their own personal life.”
Lt Cdr James and Lts Isabella and Steve are part of a pioneering cohort who will be among the first to operate Australia’s future conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines, having gained education, experience and training in both UK and US shipyards, facilities and warships.
Their success represents a significant milestone in developing the skilled workforce needed to operate Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.
Rear Admiral Jude Terry, director People and Training in the Royal Navy, said: ‘The delivery of world-class training to Royal Australian Navy people in the UK is an important component of our support to Australia and the AUKUS Agreement.
“The increasing number of Australians qualified to operate conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines shows the progress being made under the Agreement and our collective commitment to global peace and security.”
The AUKUS partnership plays a key role in deterring aggression and enhancing stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, supporting our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.