Australia, the UK, and the U.S. are working together to provide more nuclear-powered submarines in Australia.
AUKUS—a strategic partnership of Australia, the UK, and the U.S., established in 2021—has announced the first steps to implement a joint plan to bolster defense in the Indo-Pacific region.
AUKUS (an acronym for the names of the three countries) will provide Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS will also develop joint advanced military capabilities to promote security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Leaders of the three countries announced in March that the new submarines will incorporate the UK’s next-generation design with the latest U.S. technologies. They will be built and deployed by Australia and the UK, with the first vessels expected to be ready in the late 2030s.
In the meantime:
- Australian military and civilian personnel will embed with the U.S. Navy and the UK Royal Navy for training starting in 2023.
- The U.S. will increase port visits to Australia in 2023 and the UK will start increasing port visits in 2026. Australian sailors will join their crews for training and development.
- Starting in 2027, the U.S. and the UK will rotate the presence of their submarines in Western Australia while Australia develops its own fleet.
- In the 2030s, if Congress approves, the U.S. will sell Australia up to five Virginia-class submarines, the newest type of nuclear-powered, cruise missile-equipped submarines.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the phased-in project will result in a $6 billion AUD ($4 billion USD) investment in the country’s industrial capacity and its workforce over the next four years and a $368 billion AUD ($250 billion USD) commitment over the next 30 years, creating about 20,000 jobs over that time span.
It is “the single biggest investment in our defense capability in our history and represents a transformational moment for our nation, our defense force, and our economy,” Marles said.
Wisconsin companies with expertise in the maritime or naval sectors are encouraged to review the AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Pathway.
Companies that can supply technologies or other services for the Virginia-class submarines are also encouraged to contact WEDC for initial discussions about the opportunities.
