Australian submariners will train onboard British nuclear-powered submarines for the first time in the latest announcement under the AUKUS security pact.
Under the deal, Royal Australian Navy sailors will join their British counterparts on the Astute-class submarines after completing specialised nuclear training courses.
Defence Minister Richard Marles met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Wednesday in Barrow-in-Furness in England's north-west to attend the commissioning of the latest Astute-class submarine, the HMS Anison.
Mr Marles said Australia was "eager to learn from our counterparts".
"Our countries are working hand in glove on training and building the skills required for our future submarines, in an important part of bolstering our Defence Force," he said.
"Today's announcement of Australian submariners training aboard HMS Anson says everything about our future plans of building the AUKUS partnership."
The AMS Anison is the fifth submarine of its type to be built, is 97 metres-long and has a £1.3 billion ($A2.2bn) price tag.
Mr Wallace said the announcement represented a "significant milestone in the UK and Australia's preparation to confront growing threats to the liberal democratic order, especially in the Indo Pacific".
"Not only have we progressed our defence planning but Minister Marles participated in the commissioning of our latest attack submarine, on which Royal Australian Navy submariners will be embarked as we develop our shared capabilities in the years ahead," he said.
Under the AUKUS deal, which was revealed just over a year ago, Australia will get eight nuclear-powered submarines using technology supplied by both the United Kingdom and United States.
The agreement saw Australia controversially cancel a $90 billion program to get French-designed conventionally-powered submarines
But where exactly the new submarines will be built and whom will build them will not be revealed by the federal government until at least March next year.
Concerns have also been raised by some defence experts over the timeframe for the delivery of the next generation submarines, which may not happen until the 2040s.
If that is the case, it could expose Australia's defence capabilities unless an interim submarine fleet is procured to fill a gap between when the ageing Collins-class submarines are retired and the new nuclear-powered submarines are delivered.
On Tuesday Mr Marles, who is on his first official trip to the UK since the Albanese Government was elected, visited the Govan shipyard in Scotland to inspect a Type 26 frigate, which is the basis for Australia's next Hunter-class frigate.
The Australian ships, which are being built at Adelaide's Osborne shipyard, have been delayed due to several factors including the coronavirus pandemic and design changes, but Mr Marles said he was hoping shipbuilder BAE Systems could accelerate construction.
'"We've had a really frank conversation not only today, but over the last few months, about what the government expects in respect of getting the program on track," he said on Tuesday.
"The frigate really is the heart of our service fleet, and it matters that we get that program on time, delivering for the Australian Navy,"
