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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled plans for the jointly-developed SSN-AUKUS today, detailing a phased approach toward the local construction of the capability in addition to announcing a pending sale of Virginia class submarines to Australia.
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The leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States today unveiled plans for the new SSN-AUKUS, a jointly developed submarine capability based on the UK’s future submarine design with integrated US submarine technology.
The SSN-AUKUS is expected to operate as Australia and the United Kingdom’s future submarine capability, with construction to begin “within this decade.”
According to Prime Ministers Albanese and Sunak and President Biden, the first SSN-AUKUS is scheduled for delivery from the UK to the UK’s Royal Navy in the late 2030s, with the first domestically constructed SSN-AUKUS delivered from the Commonwealth to the Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s.
The leaders also detailed plans for the United States to sell Australia three Virginia class submarines in the early 2030s with the deal pending Congressional approval. Currently, the deal can be expanded to an additional two ships.
A joint statement detailed a phased approach to deliver the submarines at the earliest possible time and build a domestic nuclear-powered submarine capability.
Beginning this year, Australian military and civilian personnel will be embedded within the US Navy and Royal Navy, and their respective industrial bases, to undergo training.
Meanwhile, the US will increase port visits to Australia from 2023 with their nuclear-powered assets to train Australian personnel. The UK is scheduled to increase their port visits from 2026.
From 2027, the US and UK Navies will undertake forward rotations of their nuclear powered capabilities to expedite the development of Australia’s SSN capability include personnel, infrastructure and regulatory system.
This will be followed by the sale of three Virginia class submarines to Australia in the early 2030s, pending Congressional approval, and with the option to sell an additional two capabilities.
The first SSN-AUKUS is scheduled for delivery from the UK to the UK’s Royal Navy in the late 2030s, with the first domestically produced SSN delivered by the Commonwealth to the Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s.
The three leaders hope that the phased approach will support the development of the necessary infrastructure and human capital to maintain and develop nuclear-powered submarines in Australia.
“Our plan elevates all three nations’ industrial capacity to produce and sustain interoperable nuclear-powered submarines for decades to come, expands our individual and collective undersea presence in the Indo-Pacific, and contributes to global security and stability,” a statement from the leaders read.
“In these outcomes, AUKUS reflects the principle that shared action, taken in partnership, can benefit all.”
The three leaders reaffirmed the deep relationship between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to support global prosperity.
“For more than a century, our three nations have stood shoulder to shoulder, along with other allies and partners, to help sustain peace, stability, and prosperity around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific,” it continued.
“We believe in a world that protects freedom and respects human rights, the rule of law, the independence of sovereign states, and the rules-based international order. The steps we are announcing today will help us to advance these mutually beneficial objectives in the decades to come.”
