Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 May 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Australia: Nuclear Submarines

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the AUKUS Pillar 1 plan announced in 2023, what assessment he has made of the ability of the Royal Navy to facilitate an ongoing rotational presence of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) in waters around Australia.

Answer: The AUKUS partnership, announced in March 2023, sets out a phased approach under Pillar 1 to deliver a trilateral programme of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs), including a rotational UK and US presence in the Indo-Pacific from as early as 2027. This pathway to Australia becoming “sovereign ready” for its own SSN capability is already being realised in practice, building on visits to Western Australia by HMS Anson and successive US submarines, with activity increasing in frequency and complexity.

Secondary information