Western Australian Government backs project to transform underwater defence networks

Edith Cowan University (ECU) reported on October 9, 2025 at https://www.ecu.edu.au/newsroom/articles/news/wa-government-backs-ecu-led-project-to-transform-underwater-defence-networks

“WA Government backs ECU-led project to transform underwater defence networks”

ECU "and West Australian partner Proteus Maritime has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Western Australian Government to develop an undersea networking system to transform defence communication.

The two partners worked on the idea of an undersea mesh communications last year within the Exercise Western Dawn Innovation project, where it was named the overall winner.

The system functions like an underwater mesh network, ECU Associate Professor Iftekhar Ahmad said, enabling real-time connections between devices deep in the ocean. Rather than relying on a single hub, which could fail, each device links with others nearby, forming a resilient network that keeps information flowing even in the depths. 

"The underwater communication research team at ECU is developing advanced technologies to enhance the reliability and robustness of underwater communication across Australia's diverse undersea environments. This grant will enable the ECU team to collaborate with its industry partner in addressing critical challenges in underwater surveillance applications," Associate Professor Ahmad said.

Western Australian Defence Industries Minister, Hon Paul Papalia MLA, said the innovation will not only bolster communication between submarines, subsea drones and sensors but also potentially support scientific research as well as search and rescue operations.

"This technology will potentially give our submarines, and sea drones the upper hand with a clear line of communication even in hostile waters.

"We are proud of what our local businesses and researchers are achieving, and the State Government continue to invest in the defence sector to help it to grow," the Minister said.

The $200,000 Defence and Research Teaming grant was administered through Defence West's Defence Science Centre, which seeks to foster engagement between industry and academia to address real world problems in the defence sector."

Featuring:

Read more aboutAssociate Professor Iftekhar Ahmad

Iftekhar Ahmad is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at Edith Cowan University

Australian Invented SILEX Process Also For Weapons Grade HEU? "SILEX Treaty"

Following "Australia's Silex-GLE Completes Large Scale Uranium Enrichment Demonstration Testing" of September 17, 2025 at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2025/09/australias-silex-gle-completes-large.html

The Australian invented SILEX laser-based uranium enrichment process will very likely be used for parallel programs for the production of:

-  Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) less than 20% Uranium (U) 235, at the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) in Kentucky, USA. Enrichment is not a linear process. Getting to 19.99% LEU might be 80% of the enrichment effort towards much higher percentages in the HEU range at US Department of Energy HEU facilities (see below and here); and 

-  (from 28 October 2029 it may become legal to use SILEX technology to enrich past 20% U-235)** ie. for Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU). PLEF enriched LEU might then be passed on to US Department of Energy HEU production facilities including the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Tennessee, USA. HEU = more than 20% U-235 and up to 97% higher end weapons grade and for naval reactor fuel.

Los Alamos National Laboratory has a staff of 14,150. Amongst other things its mission is to "solve national security challenges" which includes "Weapons Systems" see here. See a Los Alamos documentary on Laser Isotope Separation (eg. Uranium Enrichment) below.

**  The "SILEX Treaty" of 28 October 1999, might expire after 30 or 31 years. See the wording of the "SILEX Treaty" between Australia and the USA, specifically:

[from 28 October 1999] "the agreement will remain in force for 30 years [until 28 October 2029]. It can be extended if both parties agree or terminated with one year's written notice (Article 16);"

I found out about the "SILEX Treaty" from this mention.

Here and above is Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Presents: Laser Isotope Separation uploaded May 7, 2021 by Alan B. Carr a Program Manager and the Senior Historian for the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Here is his website.

This Los Alamos documentary doesn't mention SILEX, But this may be because the documentary was made before 1982, while SILEX was developed in the 1990s. To back this up the hitherto named Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (quoted in the documentary) was renamed the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1981. 

At 10:04 into the documentary video "1976" is mentioned and reference is made to physical % enrichment limits. By 2025 there may be no % physical enrichment limitations.

Singapore hosts major Submarine Rescue Exercise while HMS Prince of Wales sails in for FPDA

Singapore is now hosting Exercise Pacific Reach 2025, a multinational Submarine Escape and Rescue exercise (SMER) with 600 participating personal from Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO).

Image from X@indiannavy: Submarines and ships participating in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025
---

This exercise is unique as it is the first time RSS Invincible is taking part in an international exercise, alongside two other AIP submarines, ROKS Shin Dol-seok and JS Kuroshiro. 

A mass evacuation exercise (MASSEVEX) was staged in the waters of Changi Naval Base to simulate the evacuation of a distressed submarine, and included simulated medical treatment of decompression injuries. 

Prince of Wales returns for the Five Power Defense Arrangement (FPDA) Bersama Lima 2025

Arriving at Changi Naval Base on 22 September 2025 was the RN flagship HMS Prince of Wales (PofW), which is on the return leg of the Carrier Strike Group CSG25 deployment. Speaking to USNI News on arrival, Commodore James Blackmore, RN CSG25 commander, highlighted that the strike group's arrival back in Singapore marks "the end of an incredible three months in this region where we have advanced military capabilities, understanding and cooperation with our partners and allies".

Image: British High Commission in Singapore. Prince of Wales berthed at Changi Naval Base
---

Prince of Wales is now taking part in Exercise Bersama Lima 25, an annual exercise for the Five Power Defense Arrangement (FPDA) between Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. Australia is participating with 400 ADF personnel, F-35A jets, as well as the RAN frigate HMAS Ballarat, which is part of CSG25.

As I mentioned in my July 2025 article on PofW's first visit to Singapore, the last RN aircraft carrier to take part in an FPDA exercise was HMS Invincible in 1997. 

Australia's Silex-GLE Completes Large Scale Uranium Enrichment Demonstration Testing

On September 17, 2025 Australia's Silex Systems Limited advised that Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) the exclusive licensee of the SILEX uranium enrichment technology, completed the large-scale enrichment demonstration testing campaign at its Test Loop facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. GLE has collected extensive performance data providing confidence that its laser-based uranium enrichment process will achieve TRL-6 demonstration status and can be commercially deployed.

GLE will continue its demonstration program through the course of CY2025, producing hundreds of kilograms of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), while continuing toward building a US domestic manufacturing base and supply chain to support deployment of US domestic enrichment capacity. The results of the large-scale demonstration are subject to assessment by an independent engineering contractor, with GLE expecting to receive the completed TRL-6 assessment report by the end of CY2025.

BACKGROUND

https://www.silex.com.au/silex-technology/silex-uranium-enrichment-technology/

"Silex invented and developed the ‘SILEX’ laser isotope separation technology in Sydney during the 1990’s. The uranium enrichment application of the SILEX technology was licensed exclusively in 2006 to Global Laser Enrichment LLC (‘GLE’), a joint venture business today owned by Silex (51%) and Cameco Corporation (49%). GLE is the commercialisation vehicle for the SILEX uranium enrichment technology and is based in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The development and commercialisation program for the SILEX uranium enrichment technology is being undertaken jointly by Silex (at its Lucas Heights, Sydney facility) and GLE.

Silex and GLE have continued to accelerate construction of full-scale laser and separator equipment being deployed in GLE’s Test Loop facility in Wilmington, with the aim of completing a commercial-scale pilot demonstration (TRL-6) of the SILEX technology around mid-2025, with the completion of the TRL-6 demonstration subject to an independent assessment and report.  Attaining the TRL-6 level is a key milestone in the de-risking of the SILEX technology before the focus turns to the potential preparation for, and construction of, the first commercial SILEX uranium enrichment plant at the [Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF)]...

… The Separation of Isotopes by Laser EXcitation (SILEX) process is the only third-generation enrichment technology known to be in the advanced stages of commercial development today. The SILEX technology can effectively enrich uranium through highly selective laser excitation of the 235UF6 isotopic molecule to produce ‘reactor fuel grade’ uranium which contains an assay of U235 of around 5%. UF6 is the fluorinated gaseous form of uranium, which is made via chemical conversion from the uranium oxide produced by miners. 

The two methods of uranium enrichment used to date are Gas Diffusion (first generation – obsolete) and Gas Centrifuge (second generation). Silex’s third-generation laser-based process provides much higher enrichment process efficiency [within the US potentially right up to >90% HEU for nuclear weapons or for US/UK submarine reactor fuel] compared to these earlier methods, potentially offering significantly lower overall costs."

See the later article "Australian Invented SILEX Process Also For Weapons Grade HEU?" of September 23, 2025 at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2025/09/australian-invented-silex-process-also.html .

"Submarine Rotational Force" A$33 Billion AUKUS Non Event: REVISED

The decline in US SSN numbers until 2043 will prevent US second-hand SSNs being sold to Australia in the 2030s and severely limit Submarine Rotational Force numbers at HMAS Stirling in the 2030s. Australia is embarking on confusing A$multi-billion plans in the southern Perth area mainly for rare AUKUS submarines from the US and UK.

Plans include Australia spending around "$25 billion over a decade" to upgrade the Henderson shipbuilding and maintenance precinct in southern Perth, Western Australia. This, in part. aims to service SSNs. See https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-13/albanese-announces-aukus-12-billion-dollar-defence-spend-perth/105770188

Australia is also spending a minimum of A$8 Billion to expand its submarine base (aka HMAS Stirling or Fleet Base West) south of Perth - money which is also going into housing for US and UK personnel and their families. The base expansion is for handling "up to" 4 US attack submarines (SSNs) and a UK Astute SSN. This is the vaunted "Submarine Rotational Force" project, under AUKUS. See https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-12/inside-the-aukus-plan-to-station-american-subs-near-perth/105763818

Note - there have been loose, slow motion, rotations (or visits) of US SSNs through HMAS Stirling since 2005, if not before.

But if we build more facilities will more subs come? 

US submarine numbers will decline until at least 2043. This is tied to completion of the final US Columbia class SSBN. The Columbias are dominating US submarine production until 2042. The mathematics are each of these higher priority, much larger, Columbias require the US production effort of 2.5 standard Virginias. See Industrial-Base Challenges of Building Both Columbia- and Virginia-Class Boats at https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R41129 and endnote 37 at https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R41129 .

The US has made major efforts to lift submarine production and maintenance for more than a decade. But the inability to attract enough skilled labour, as well as supply chain inefficiencies, has stymied these efforts.

All this means that unless the US partly transfers SSNs from US territory, like Guam, there will be no US submarines available for higher tempo rotation through  HMAS Stirling, until 2043.

Then there is the UK promise, under AUKUS, that Astute class SSNs can spend more time being rotated through HMAS Stirling. This is even less likely. The UK usually has available only two, or more often, one operational Astute(s). Due to reactor and other quality control problems the Astutes have a low rate of availability.

The main mission of these one or two operational Astutes is to protect UK SSBN  patrol activity in the Atlantic. The UK has little margin of safety to increase the rare Astute rotations (really just short visits) through HMAS Stirling.

So on top of the unlikelihood of buying US and UK SSNs this side of 2045, a significant uptick in rotations through Australia is yet another hugely expensive AUKUS gamble.

Singapore to buy 4 P-8 Poseidon MPAs: REVISED 13/08/2025

I mentioned in an article in February 2025 that Singapore was looking to replace its long serving Fokker 50 MPAs with something newer. Four Boeing P-8 Poseidons have now been selected.

Image: Wikipedia
---

The announcement came as part of a visit by Singapore’s Minister of Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, to the Pentagon for a meeting with the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.

While the full details of the purchase are scarce at this point in time, there is some urgency in replacing the Fokker 50s, which are now 33 years old. Boeing P-8s and Airbus C-295 MPAs were referenced in the initial announcement of the MPA replacement program, but Singapore usually buys the gold standard, which is the P-8.

The P-8 Poseidon will enable the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to conduct maritime patrols along the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) into the South China Sea, Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand.

Sea Lines of Communication and chokepoints in the Western Pacific.
Diagram from: Nagy, Stephen. (2022). Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific: Defending a global public good 
---

P-8s will also be the first RSAF airborne fixed wing asset with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities, and enable Singapore a greater stand-off distance in detecting and prosecuting hostile submarines. The P-8 can also be used in other roles with an external multi-mission pod designed to accept a range of sensors and systems.  

USN P-8A Posiden testing multi-mission pod.
Image: Connor Ochs via TheAviationist)
---

Addendum

Speaking on September 13, 2025, to Singapore media at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, USA, home to the RSAF's F-15SG training squadron, Minister Chan elaborated that while the expected delivery of the P-8s would be in early 2030s, Singapore had been seeking an F-50 MPA replacement "for a few years", focusing not on platform, but capabilities, specifically "to enhance our situational awareness for the maritime security environment."

Singapore will "subsequently make announcements on other platforms that we may acquire in order to complement this capability." 

The cost to Singapore of the P-8 purchase has yet to be released, but in comparison, New Zealand ordered 4 Poseidons in 2018 - a contract then worth US$1.46 billion. All 4 aircraft for NZ were delivered by July 2023.

Singapore's evolving anti-submarine capabilities

Pete and I have chatted a number of times over the years about Singapore's antisubmarine capabilities, as it actually took a step back in 2010.

The first generation of the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) ASW capabilities was the inclusion of a towed Thomson Sintra TSM 2064 variable depth sonar and A.244/S lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes with the commission of the Victory-class Missile Corvette (MCV) in 1990. 

Image: RSS Valiant, a Victory-class MCV with KD Jebat and HMAS Ballarat at Ex Kakadu 2005. Note white stern mounted VDS. Image RAN via Full Frame. 
---

Alongside the MCV, Singapore also commissioned 12 Fearless -class patrol vessels (PV) in 1995 with the first six equipped with Thales TSM 2362 Gudgeon hull-mounted active sonar and A.244/S lightweight ASW torpedoes. 

Thus, from 1995 to 2005, the RSN operated with 12 anti-submarine surface combatants. 

The fact that these capabilties were removed when both classes underwent MLU/SLEP from 2009 indicated that this implementation had failed, especially as these ships would need to be within 6km of a submarine to engage them with lightweight ASW torpedoes.

The second generation of the RSN's ASW capabilities arrived with the Challenger-class submarines, but we aren't going to go down the submarine rabbit hole. 

With the introduction of the Formidable-class frigates in the mid-2000s, equipped with EDO Model 980 active frequency towed sonar and S-70B Seahawk helicopters, Singapore finally had a 'proper' ASW surface combatant and its first airborne rotary ASW platform, which provided a greater stand-off range for attacks.

With the pending introduction of the MRCV from 2028, I have speculated in a previous article that Singapore will acquire a large multirole surface platform that can simultaneously handle various unmanned systems. This includes USVs with towed sonar and underwater ASW drones. But additional anti-submarine helicopters have not been ordered (at the times of this article) to coincide with the MRCV program, which may indicate that an airborne VTOL UAV for ASW could be in consideration.