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The Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter has contributed useful details that may support the possibility of an Astute being part-time based in Australia in years to come - some details below.
SNAFU article Rumour Astute(s) to be based in Australia! carries a Daily Mailreport along the lines that the UK Chief of Defence, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, may discuss, at a naval conference in Sydney week beginning July 25, 2022, basing Astute(s) in Australia.
Below this Rumour, Anonymous commented:
“I don't know what naval conference is on in Sydney next week?”
Where this is going is that the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) subsequently reports, July 25, 2022:
“The 24th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) Conference will be held in Sydney from 25 to 27 July 2022…Thirty countries have been invited, with participants representing the Indo-Pacific, Europe, North American and South American regions and other counterparts…”
Pete Comment
This Conference provides the setting for UK Admiral Radakin to privately confer with his Australian opposite number General Angus Campbell, the RAN and “SSN” Taskforce on part-time Astute availability at Fleet Base West, Australia.
Note, this would be a private room discussion and not openly discussed at the main meeting of the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense.
The results of an Astute discussion are unlikely to come out this year, but when the Taskforce reports in March 2023.