Rolls-Royce signs MoU with Victorian Government for AUKUS support

Above: An artist impression of the future AUKUS attack submarines.
Courtesy Rolls-Royce

Developing nuclear skills will be a particular focus, with plans to establish Rolls-Royce-affiliated skills and training academies being explored. This would build on the success of the award-winning Rolls-Royce Nuclear Skills Academy which opened in Derby, UK, in 2022. It has seen up to 200 apprentices enrolled on apprenticeships each year, creating a pipeline of nuclear talent at the start of their careers to support the UK Royal Navy. 

The agreement will also look to support launching specific research and development initiatives, including the establishment of Rolls-Royce University Technology Centres and affiliated research clusters, in collaboration with Victorian universities.



Above: Colin Brooks, Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Victoria meets Rolls-Royce Submarines apprentices at their Nuclear Skills Academy in Derby, UK.
Courtesy Rolls-Royce

Following similar agreements signed with Western and South Australian Governments in September 2025, this marks a significant step forward in Australia’s preparations for operating its first conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines. It also highlights the unique nuclear expertise Rolls-Royce brings to the AUKUS agreement.

Victoria is at the forefront of research and innovation in Australia. The State hosts eight world-leading universities with advanced research and development capabilities. In December 2024, Victoria released its Economic Growth Statement, which backs its defence-oriented supply chain to win work, grow and support AUKUS. This includes increases in investment and trade facilitation, uplifts in small and medium-sized enterprises, workforce development initiatives, and bolstering innovation adoption.

To this aim, the collaboration agreement will also look to facilitate opportunities with Victorian small and medium enterprises, to strengthen the State’s defence supply chain and broader industrial capabilities.

Rolls-Royce has powered the UK Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines for over 65 years and is expanding its Derby site to support both UK and Australian defence programs. Rolls-Royce is the only private company in the world with the nuclear capability to manage reactor design, manufacture and decommissioning within one single entity. 

In March 2023, it was confirmed that Rolls-Royce Submarines would provide all the nuclear reactor plants that will power new attack submarines as part of the tri-lateral agreement between Australia, the UK and US. 

Steve Carlier, Rolls-Royce Submarines President, said: "This collaboration agreement will bring together the world-leading research and innovation capabilities of Victoria with our own established nuclear expertise to support Australia in their mission to introduce nuclear powered submarines to their fleet.

“Nuclear submarines bring unsurpassed endurance, range, stealth, power and reliability that still provide the absolute pinnacle of military advantage.

“This agreement allows us to support Australia in establishing a sustainable supply chain in-country, while developing home-grown nuclear talent and well-paid careers for Australian people.”

Colin Brooks, Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Victoria said: "Our defence sector contributes billions to our economy every year and supports more than 29,000 jobs − this agreement will help ensure we continue to have a skilled pipeline of workers in this critical sector.”

Rolls-Royce Submarines currently employs more than 5,000 people and designs, manufactures and provides in-service support to the pressurised water reactors that power every boat in the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet.

Rolls-Royce is currently supporting the existing Astute and Dreadnought boat build programmes through the delivery of reactor plant and associated components.

It also provides frontline support across the world for reactor plant equipment from its Operations Centre in Derby and supports the submarines when in the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard and the naval bases at Devonport and Faslane. In addition, there are technical specialists working in offices in Glasgow and Cardiff, with a unique test facility operating in Thurso, Scotland.