US Virginia class submarine, USS Minnesota (SSN 783) has arrived at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia on 25 February for a routine port visit, the first of several planned US SSN submarine visits to Australia in 2025.
While in the west, members of the submarine's crew will participate in a US submarine command course, a training program for naval officers who are preparing to take command of a submarine.
This visit is the first of several planned US SSN submarine port visits to Australia in 2025. The next port visit to HMAS Stirling later this year will be a three-week submarine maintenance period.
This year's port visits follow the recent submarine tendered maintenance period at HMAS Stirling in 2024 with the U.S. submarine tender, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and the US submarine, USS Hawaii (SSN 776).
The Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN was proud to welcome Minnesota to Australia.
"The Australian and US Navies operate on shared behaviours, shared values, and a shared commitment to assuring the prosperity and security of the Indo-Pacific region," Vice Admiral Hammond said.
"This port visit follows the recent submarine tendered maintenance period at HMAS Stirling, which was the first time Australians directly participated in the maintenance of a US nuclear-powered submarine in Australia."
These port visits help Australia and the U.S. prepare for the start of Submarine Rotational-Force West at HMAS Stirling from as early as 2027, during which one UK Astute class submarine and up to four US Virginia class submarines will have a rotational presence at the base.
The start of Submarine Rotational-Force West is the first phase in the AUKUS Pillar I program, which will ultimately result in Australia's acquisition of a future fleet of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
