The US, Australia and the UK are jointly building, Manning and arming a fleet of new nuclear submarines. China looks on with suspicion.
To parry Beijing’s military rise, U.S. president Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British prime minister Rishi Sunak are developing new submarines together. On Monday, the three leaders finalized their ambitious agreement in San Diego, the main home of the U.S. submarine fleet for the Pacific.
The three countries are building, Manning and arming future attack submarines to British design. The nuclear-powered vessels will receive conventional armament from cruise missiles and torpedoes. the US will supply technology for the submarines, including an Advanced Vertical Launch System. This allows the submarines to set off with a larger number of missiles.
The British are building the new submarines in Barrow, in the north-west of England. Australia is using the British experience to eventually build its own submarines in the southern port city of Adelaide.
The cooperation is groundbreaking for the USA. The Americans have so far only shared their nuclear propulsion technology with the UK. The main advantage of nuclear-powered submarines over diesel-electric variants is that the range and deployment time are many times greater.
The joint development and operation of the submarine fleet must be cost-effective by scaling up. The International Maritime project also generates a lot of employment.
The first new British attack submarines are due to launch in the late 2030s. Australia expects to welcome the first submarines in the early 2040s. The cost to Canberra could be as high as $ 200 billion in thirty years.
To fill the gap to delivery, the US will send four submarines to Australia from 2027 on a rotational basis; Britain one. Furthermore, Canberra is buying three Virginia-class submarines in the US at a reduced rate, with an option on two more pieces. With it, Australia can already train commanders and sailors. The American Virginia SSN-774 submarine is currently visiting Perth, Australia.
The ambitious agreement of the USA, Australia and the UK is groundbreaking. The joint development of the maritime weapons system creates, as it were, a common fleet of nuclear submarines. In addition, the three countries exchange high-end technology and their defense industries become closely intertwined.
“It is difficult to exaggerate the step we are taking as a nation,” Australian Defence Secretary Richard Marles said last week. According to him, the submarines ensure safety and stability through deterrence.
Monday’s agreement is a consequence of the Aukus military alliance concluded eighteen months ago, referring to Australia, UK and US. According to the deal, the US and Britain together would help Australia acquire at least eight nuclear submarines.
The presentation of Aukus in 2021 led to a serious riot between Australia and France. Canberra abruptly put a stop to a $ 33 billion deal for the supply of roughly ten French diesel-electric submarines, replacing the thirty-year-old Australian ships.
With Aukus, the US, Australia and the UK are making a joint fist towards the rapidly developing China and its aggressive attitude towards Taiwan. Beijing’s Sea Fleet is already the largest in the world. China has denounced the alliance as a nuclear provocation.
The Americans are betting heavily on Asia. Japan is reportedly allowed to purchase hundreds of American cruise missiles, the Philippines is opening four military bases to the US, while Australia is hosting heavy American B-52 bombers.
