South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and Western Australian Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia tour the Rolls-Royce Raynesway site in DerbyRolls-Royce has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with both the Western Australian and South Australian governments, marking a significant milestone in Austral’s preparations for the AUKUS submarine programme. The agreements outline a joint commitment to workforce development, skills training, and the advancement of critical technologies to support the expanding defence sectors in each state.
The MoUs re-inforce Rolls-Royce’s pivotal role in the trilateral AUKUS agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US, which will see Australia acquire its first conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines. With over 65 years of experience powering the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines, Rolls-Royce brings unmatched expertise to the programme. The company is currently expanding its Derby site to support both UK and Australian defence initiatives, and remains the only private enterprise globally with the capability to design, manufacture, and decommission nuclear reactors under one roof.
In March 2023, it was confirmed that Rolls-Royce Submarines would supply all nuclear reactor plants for the new attack submarines under AUKUS. The MoUs build on previous engagements, including a 2024 visit to Australia by Rolls-Royce Submarines and the announcement to double the size of its Derby facility to meet programme demands. The agreements will see Rolls-Royce collaborate with both state governments to co-design and implement initiatives aimed at building a highly skilled workforce. Particular emphasis will be placed on strengthening STEM education pipelines and addressing critical skills gaps in support of current and future defence projects.
Rolls-Royce’s Nuclear Skills Academy, launched in 2022 in partnership with the
University of Derby, serves as a model for these efforts. The academy trains up to 200 apprentices annually, providing a steady stream of talent for the Royal Navy Submarines programme. Learnings from this initiative will inform the development of similar programmes in Australia.
Nuclear-powered submarinesSteve Carlier, president of Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: “We are incredibly proud to play our part in the development of the next generation of attack submarines for the Royal Navy, and equally proud to be supporting Australia in its mission to introduce nuclear-powered submarines to its fleet. Nuclear submarines bring unsurpassed endurance, range, stealth, power and reliability that still provide the absolute pinnacle of military advantage. These MoUs allow us to leverage our decades of experience to help Australia develop a talented workforce and inspire the next generation of Australian nuclear engineers.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said: “South Australia is at the forefront of the nation’s defence industry, but we need to keep growing the skills and capabilities required to meet future defence needs. AUKUS presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our state. This MoU will help us build the workforce and industry capability needed to deliver on that opportunity. A skilled workforce will be crucial to continuing our state’s leading role in defence project delivery to meet the nation’s growing security challenges, and work must begin on this now.”
Paul Papalia, Western Australian Defence Industries Minister, added: “Western Australia is proud to partner with Rolls Royce, a world leader in nuclear reactor maintenance and construction. As the home of our nation’s submarine fleet, Western Australia is focused on the rapidly approaching task of sustaining nuclear-powered submarines from 2027. Collaboration with Rolls Royce will boost efforts to support our allies as part of Submarine Rotational Force – West.”
Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs over 5,000 people and provides in-service support for the pressurised water reactors powering every vessel in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet. The company is actively supporting the Astute and Dreadnought boat build programmes and delivers reactor plant components from its Derby Operations Centre. It also provides frontline support at naval bases in Devonport and Faslane, and maintains technical teams in Glasgow and Cardiff, with a unique test facility operating in Thurso, Scotland.