The Australian and UK Governments have reached a significant milestone in the delivery of the SSN AUKUS fleet, a new generation of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Navy nd Royal Australian Navy.
The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) signed a “Tasking Statement” with BAE Systems and ASC, laying out critical plans for build strategy, supply chain management, and workforce development.
“The Tasking Statement is an important step in establishing a sovereign nuclear submarine build capability in Australia. The program is anticipated to generate thousands of highly skilled jobs over its lifetime,” said Stuart Whiley, CEO of ASC.
He noted that today’s schoolchildren will be the future workforce behind Australia’s SSN AUKUS fleet. The collaboration will allow Australia to tap into the UK’s extensive experience in nuclear submarine construction.
Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Submarines, highlighted the complexity of the task: “The safe build, test and commissioning of nuclear submarines is a hugely complex engineering endeavour. Through these agreements, we’re able to share our vast experience of nuclear submarine capabilities to support the build of submarines in Australia.”
The SSN AUKUS submarines, praised for their “stealth and endurance,” are designed for advanced underwater missions, including surveillance, intelligence gathering, and warfare. Craig Lockhart, BAE Systems Australia CEO, described the program as “a complex build challenge that industry partners are coming together to deliver.”
Work is progressing on defining delivery schedules, infrastructure at Osborne shipyard in Adelaide, and streamlining information transfer between Australia, the UK, and the US. This follows previous agreements, including an AUKUS Mobilisation Deed signed in November.
I like that, when it comes to the AUKUS class, they always have to explicitly state that they are ‘conventionally armed’ as if the dunderheads in some quarters just can’t grasp the idea that nuclear submarines don’t automatically carry nuclear weapons and are, at any moment, ready to wail and gnash teeth if this proviso is not included.
It’s the N word. Once upon a time, medical imaging using the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance was known as NMR imaging. It has nothing to do with nuclear power, involving the resonance of atomic nuclei in strong magnetic fields. However, so many people were scared of the word nuclear, it’s now just called MRI, with the unmentionable letter N removed. If the Australian politicians were equally as squeemish, these submarines would be just be called SSAs and the N word would never appear again.
Hmmm…perhaps a contest to rename the SSN-A class would be in order. Understand that the AUV for the RRS Sir David Attenborough has appropriated the appellation Boaty McBoatface, however, surely other suitable contenders remain. Discuss (after consuming your favorite alcoholic beverage during this festive period)…🤔🍺🍹🍷🍸 😋😉
Australia wanted 12 subs, Aukus will deliver 8.
Australia wanted to pay 96 BN, Aukus will cost 360 bn.
Australia wanted to build 12 ships, Aukus foresees 3, or 2,built locally.
Australia wanted its first subs by 2032, Aukus will start deliver from 2034.
Australia wanted to rely on solid industrial partners, Aukus will be provided by the UK and the US who cannot produce their own models in due time.
Australia wanted a tested design, Aukus model is not conceived yet .
Australia wanted to avoid environmental risks, Aukus will require to store ultra radioactive materials for at least 10 000 years.
Australia wanted to strengthen its defense and security , Aukus has started a nuclear armement race in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia wanted control of its strategic decisions, Aukus subs will be depending on American will.
Congrats !
Chris
The only part of your post that makes any sense is the cost increase. For the rest of it, I suggest a little more thought & research as to the facts & the how & why of things.
SSN are expensive. Everyone knows that. The question is really are they worth the cost. Australia seems to think so. So does UK, US & France.
‘Aukus has started a nuclear armement race in the Indo-Pacific.’
Interesting claim. Perhaps you can give more detail please.
France delivered nothing, not even the first cut of steel , six years after signing the contract. That and that alone gave birth to AUKUS . The Suffren class is even further behind in it’s delivery schedule. The first of class was due in 2017 , the first has just recently been commissioned into service . The others are equally late and are smaller , less capable with an inferior weapons load . Is that what you would prefer?, The French offered no build whatsoever in Australia. They are an unreliable partner . That is the heart of the matter .