The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport hosted Australian ambassador, the Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd, and US Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.). Dr. Kevin Rudd, Australia’s ambassador to the United States, and Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) I visited the warfare center on Oct. 16 to give tours and briefings as part of AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.
The visit included an overview of Division Newport’s efforts and discussions with warfare center leaders and department heads. These included Dr. Martin Irvine Jr., Executive Director of NUWC/NSWC, Newport Technical Director Marie Bussiere, and Commanding Officer Capt. Chad Hennings.
“The AUKUS partnership between the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia offers a unique opportunity for our nations to enhance military capabilities, deepen interoperability and strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” Hennings said. “Division Newport is committed to supporting AUKUS, as well as the U.S. Navy mission of promoting prosperity and security, deterring aggression and protecting the American way of life.”
Following introductions, Irvine provided an overview of the NSWC/NUWC structure, explaining that with eight surface warfare and two undersea warfare sites across the U.S., the warfare centers supply the technical operations, people, technology, engineering services and products needed to meet the warfighters’ needs.
“Our real role is making our Navy programs successful. Bringing science to the warfighter is our personal mission,” Irvine said. “It’s about safety and effectiveness. We want our warfighters to be lethal, but we also want them to be safe.”
Hennings and Bussiere then described Division Newport’s organizational structure and capability thrusts, including briefings on partnerships with industry and academia, educational outreach, heavyweight torpedo improvements and combat system modernization.
“The underwater domain is a key frontier in modern military strategy,” Reed said. “Our adversaries recognize this and are rapidly expanding their capabilities, developing sophisticated submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and advanced weapons systems. Success in undersea warfare also translates to securing trade in the maritime commons, where 90% of global commerce transits. As a result, maintaining our edge in undersea warfare is essential to safeguarding global stability, securing lines of commerce and points of critical infrastructure, and protecting U.S. interests at home and abroad.”
Rudd and Reed also visited Division Newport’s Platform and Payload Integration Facility, the only Navy land-based facility with a system test capability.
The AUKUS partnership aims to strengthen the security and defense of each partner nation.
“Australia and the United States are steadfast allies, and through AUKUS, we are not only enhancing our national defense, but also creating economic opportunities for our citizens,” Reed said. “Investing in undersea warfare is not just about preparing for conflict — it’s about deterring it. By ensuring that our submarines, unmanned systems and other undersea technologies remain the best in the world, we send a clear message: the United States will defend its interests at sea, above and below the waterline.”
The AUKUS partnership consists of two pillars. The first priority is to rapidly acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, likely in the early 2030s.
Pillar II Advanced Capabilities emphasizes artificial intelligence, autonomy, quantum, cyber, hypersonic/counter-hypersonic, and electronic warfare.
“From submarines to autonomous systems, AUKUS is helping deliver the advanced capabilities needed to maintain regional security,” Rudd said. “AUKUS is securing a free and open Indo-Pacific for future generations. This historic partnership with the U.K. and U.S. is driving innovation, creating jobs and enhancing regional security.”
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
