Australia, the United States and Britain have unveiled a defence alliance.

The British Government say that the new alliance will bolster the Integrated Review commitment to strengthen alliances with like-minded allies and deepen ties in the Indo-Pacific.

The Australian Prime Minister has announced that the first step of ‘AUKUS’ will be to procure & help develop a new fleet of nuclear powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.

According to a statement:

“AUKUS is a concrete articulation of the UK’s ambition, made in the Integrated Review, to deepen defence, security and foreign policy ties with like-minded allies across the globe. The agreement reflects the unique level of trust and cooperation between our three countries, who already share extensive intelligence through the Five Eyes alliance. The first initiative under AUKUS will be a collaboration on future nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. This capability will promote stability in the Indo-Pacific and will be deployed in support of our shared values and interests.

The UK has built and operated world-class nuclear-powered submarines for over 60 years. We will therefore bring deep expertise and experience to the project through, for example, the work carried out by Rolls Royce near Derby and BAE Systems in Barrow. The initial scoping phase for the new endeavour is expected to take 18 months. The design and build process will create hundreds of highly skilled scientific and engineering roles across the UK, and drive investment in some of our most high-tech sectors.”

The Prime Minister said:

“The UK, Australia and US are natural allies – while we may be separated geographically, our interests and values are shared. The AUKUS alliance will bring us closer than ever, creating a new defence partnership and driving jobs and prosperity.

This partnership will become increasingly vital for defending our interests in the Indo-Pacific region and, by extension, protecting our people back at home.”

Joint Leaders statement on AUKUS

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, President Joseph R Biden and Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued the following statement.

“As leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, guided by our enduring ideals and shared commitment to the international rules-based order, we resolve to deepen diplomatic, security, and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, including by working with partners, to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. As part of this effort, we are announcing the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” – Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Through AUKUS, our governments will strengthen the ability of each to support our security and defense interests, building on our longstanding and ongoing bilateral ties. We will promote deeper information and technology sharing. We will foster deeper integration of security and defense-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains. And in particular, we will significantly deepen cooperation on a range of security and defense capabilities.

As the first initiative under AUKUS, recognizing our common tradition as maritime democracies, we commit to a shared ambition to support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. Today, we embark on a trilateral effort of 18 months to seek an optimal pathway to deliver this capability. We will leverage expertise from the United States and the United Kingdom, building on the two countries’ submarine programs to bring an Australian capability into service at the earliest achievable date.

The development of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines would be a joint endeavour between the three nations, with a focus on interoperability, commonality, and mutual benefit. Australia is committed to adhering to the highest standards for safeguards, transparency, verification, and accountancy measures to ensure the non-proliferation, safety, and security of nuclear material and technology. Australia remains committed to fulfilling all of its obligations as a non-nuclear weapons state, including with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Our three nations are deeply committed to upholding our leadership on global non-proliferation.

Recognizing our deep defense ties, built over decades, today we also embark on further trilateral collaboration under AUKUS to enhance our joint capabilities and interoperability. These initial efforts will focus on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities.

The endeavour we launch today will help sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. For more than 70 years, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have worked together, along with other important allies and partners, to protect our shared values and promote security and prosperity. Today, with the formation of AUKUS, we recommit ourselves to this vision.”

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Rob
Rob
2 years ago

Very interesting news. Seems the western democracies, maybe the Anglo-sphere, have got the message from China at last. 6 or so Aussie SSNs will put the CCP in a spin. They will, of course, up their own production, they can afford it but this is a significant step in reigning in the dragon.

I just hope the arms race doesn’t escalate in a stupid way. If it does Japan, S Korea & Malaysia could join in on our side.

The message is, ‘we will not be intimidated.’

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

this is kind of embarrassing for the Royal Navy…. We need more submarines. I’m kind of hoping the Aussies get 8-10 because that might force us to step up. It would be politically and militarily unacceptable for the RAN to have a better submarine capability than the RN.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

There is no way the RAN buys 12 SSN’s. They have no nuclear infrastructure at all. The costs of this are going to be.. crazy.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

I think the costs will be crazy whether they get 1, 6 or 12. Going from 0 to 1 is a lot harder than from 1 to 100 😂

JOHNT
JOHNT
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Agreed just look how much Brazil are spending on their first SSN $5 billion last time I checked you could get a sizable fleet type of Type 212/214’s for that much.

Julian
Julian
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

As mentioned 8-10 would likely be too big a burden for the RAN budget but even if by some miracle that were to happen I think it would take another miracle for the UK to respond as you hope. I just look at current precedent to support my suspicion. Both Australia and Canada have selected T26 and both are planning to build more than the 8 that the UK is planning, almost double in the case of the RCN with plans for 15 although I would not be at all surprised if that gets cut at least a bit. In… Read more »

Julian
Julian
2 years ago
Reply to  Julian

Sorry, that was supposed to be replying to eclipse not Chris.

Tony
Tony
2 years ago
Reply to  Julian

The RCN have no aircraft carriers, no destroyers, four 30 year old small DE subs and a dozen frigates that are at least 25 years old. The RN has two brand new aircraft carriers, six SSNs (four new with the remaining two old ones being replaced), six air defence destroyers, four SSBNs with four brand new ones being built, a dozen T23 frigates with the T26 and T31 on order at the moment. There is a pretty good reason the RCN need almost double the T26 that we do!

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

‘Militarily unacceptable’ Why ?

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

Not a very good word to use :/ Militarily meaning in military strategy. There is no way Britain will be able to deploy all or even half of our 7 astutes to the pacific. Best case scenario, if conflict breaks out we might be able to send 2. If Australia has 6 they will have much more say in military strategy than we will, which would once again end up being politically unacceptable.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

In your scenario the UK will be bringing carrier strike groups. Those guys call the shots. The RAN will play the ancillary role of sub-surface sea denial.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Good point. Just as a question, how long do you think it would take, assuming QE/PWLS are not in the pacific, for us to send an acceptable (1 QE, 2 T45, 2 T23/T26, 1 Astute + RFA) CSG to the pacific if it was an emergency?

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Impossible to answer I’m afraid.

Under most circumstances it could be fueled and armed at sea and enroute, even coming off a docking period dry and empty.

Time to get on station in the pacific depends if the canal is available or too high risk and where the supply tail is. The carrier and sub will easily outrun the fort vic and tankers.

Your biggest speed limit will be the supply chain.

Last edited 2 years ago by Chris
eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Australia doesn’t have a replenishment fleet (save for what will be two oilers at 20k tonnes each) so I’m guessing the MSC and RFA would be essential to the success of any endeavour.

DJ
DJ
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Australia is looking to build 2 x “joint support ships” around the 16,000t – 17,000t mark. Navantia’s interpretation below.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/pacific-2019/2019/10/pacific-2019-navantia-australia-unveils-joint-support-ship-design/

New Zealand also has a new AOR & is a potential for a JSS as well.

George Parker
George Parker
1 year ago
Reply to  eclipse

About six weeks, give or take. But the alliance submarine force will already be there in numbers. The US already rule the Pacific and that will not change this century. The CCP subs are useless by comparison. Rather than catching up with US/UK technology, they are barely keeping pace with Japanese advancement! Even the new Russian boats are years ahead of the CCP.

David
David
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Actually, the US will call the shots – especially when it comes to China. I’m not saying the US won’t ask for/value input from the UK/Aus but at the end of the day, the US carries the biggest stick by far and therefore….

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  David

Of course, definitely. The US has its 7th Fleet over there and I’m sure it could deploy 3-4 Nimitzes within a few days. Still, i think the USN hold the RN in high regard and so would definitely ask for input and take it into account.

Donaldson
Donaldson
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

If it all kicked off in the SCS I’d much rather 2 A boats than the CSG

Sean the real Sean
Sean the real Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Were not buying 6 , were buying 12 , and they are Virginias all of them , your Subs being WAY WAY to expensive. NFS, which is a subsidiary of BWXT will manage Nuclear infrastructure crew will be deployed to Bangor Washington integrating with SUBRON-19 pretty much being an American extension though when we toast it is the to the Queen not the President . As an Australian is there any other Ozzy’s who have gone through the embarrassing protocol of correcting an US Navy captain when he toasts the current Prime Minister of Oz and advise him we can… Read more »

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago

Australia can’t afford 12 Virginia class submarines, not that the US will ever sell them. And, just to be clear, neither the Virginias nor the Astutes are on offer. Then, on to your next point, a Virginia sub is more expensive than an Astute. The rest of what you wrote is purely opinion and that’s your right.

Sean the real Sean
Sean the real Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

It’s 12 , with Six being Tranche One , your right they are not Virginias , they will be they’re own class , an extension of an sub class . We can afford 12 because Old Electric boat will pump them out costing a full One Third less than your Astute class .We do need your men though , officers and Chiefs .

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Why talk to him the guys a troll.

Johan
Johan
2 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

not even a good troll, bet he is French and pissed they just lost a contract

Ex-Service
Ex-Service
2 years ago

Astutes are a much better boat in all respects to the Virginias, but any of these are better than any SSK.

Unfortunately, excluding the future TLAM capability, which is common to both designs, Australian politics, the RAN currently using the BYG-1 and the Mk48, the programme director; the better weapons system (CCS+2076, Spearfish) will most likely not be chosen.

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago
Reply to  Ex-Service

Yes, the Astute’s are pure hunter killers, not hybrid SSGN’s.With missile capability from the torpedo tubes only.

Last edited 2 years ago by Meirion x
David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  Ex-Service

He’s a troll. Doubt he’s Russian more likely he’s just a loser.

Netking
Netking
2 years ago
Reply to  Ex-Service

Astutes are a much better boat in all respects to the Virginias”

Do you have anything tangible to support this claim or this just your opinion?

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago
Reply to  Netking

The Virginia’s are really SSGN’s built to replace VLS capacity of the outgoing Ohio SSGN’s. The extra length of a SSGN will certainly handicap a Virginia compared to a pure SSN like Astute.

It all comes down to the type of mission tasked!

Last edited 2 years ago by Meirion x
Netking
Netking
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

I don’t believe that’s how it works. In terms of length the original Virginia’s are not far off the Seawolf class and according to the many submarine warfare experts, nothing comes close to those. Also the Virginia class actually replaces the Seawolf class which was the planned replacement for the Los Angeles class attack subs, not the Ohio class.

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago
Reply to  Netking

The Virginia’s don’t replace the Seawolf’s,
It is SSN(X) that will replace the Seawolf’s in early 2030’s, and early built Virginia’s.

Netking
Netking
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

Actually they did. The Seawolf class was designed to replace the Los Angeles class. The soviet union collapse and the threat that the seawolf was designed for mostly disappeared with it. (Think of the seawolf class as the F22 of the sea) No longer able to justify the enormous cost and engineering needed for the seawolf, they built the Virginia class as a cheaper replacement after building just 3 seawolf subs.

John Stevens
John Stevens
2 years ago

Think from one article I read.. Aussie’s might go for 8 Sub’s. We will see..

Tomartyr
Tomartyr
2 years ago

Queen of England?
There hasn’t been one of those since the Scottish monarchy inherited the title and united their kingdoms into the UK.

DJ
DJ
2 years ago

Lay off the whisky Sean. The official statement from the Australian PM is that they will take 18 months to decide what to build, but it will be built in Osbourne, South Australia (except the reactor), in the new ASC submarine yard. The options are Virginia, Astute or a new updated design of either. Astute has the advantage of lower crewing numbers & BAE is already well established in Australia including shipbuilding. Neither of the US submarine builders have much, if any, presence. IMO, BAE/Astute would be easier & far less chance of Naval Group type problems. As to numbers… Read more »

Sean the real Sean
Sean the real Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  DJ

What’s terrible besides Whisky (VB for me) is that this decision literally means were going to let a lot of people down in Adelaide . Everything is already decided not by us but the Yanks including the Virginias in all but name . Electric boat is not sharing with you or our own people in Oz so yeah were breaking this to them slowly . They will be a sub class of Block 4 Virginias which as your probably aware of have reduced life maintenance over life time from 4 to 3 making them affordable along with the HMMR and… Read more »

David Steeper
2 years ago

Why aren’t you in school ?

Johan
Johan
2 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

he is in a juvenile detention center

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago

You will soon have a new head of state. They’re otherwise known as POTUS.

Nick
Nick
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Why is that unacceptable? Australia is a major country in the Pacific. In terms of trade it is far heavier entwined to the region that the U.K. Australia has more skin in the Indo-Pacific game so to speak. This is the 21st not 20th century. The U.K. should be delighted not view naval force as a pseudo Ashes competition!

Neil o'Neill
Neil o'Neill
2 years ago
Reply to  Nick

Ignore some of the silly comments on here mate. Most of us here in the UK see it as great thing to be joining forces with our Australian brothers and sisters on an engineering journey that will help all parties equally. Most people over here have family,friends or colleagues who are Australian our countries are truly linked. Australia is a big player in the region but even in 21st century the uk has massive business interests in indo Pacific area especially in maritime insurance and finance worth 100s of billions if stability isn’t kept

Nick
Nick
2 years ago
Reply to  Neil o'Neill

Good point Neil on the maritime insurance. Appreciate your sentiments. I just find it puzzling how some still retain outdated thinking towards this side of the world. Kudos though to the U.K. (and USA) for the foresight and willingness to share the technology.

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Nick

You touch on a long standing issue for UK defence strategy, which is a popular belief that Britain’s pre war status and prestige can be retained despite the diminishing economic ability to do so.
The UK pulled back from the Eastern hemisphere in the 50s and yet somehow we are now meant to sustain a global presence that includes policing a new superpower located in that same region? It’s bonkers and also irresponsible.

Chris Wernert
Chris Wernert
1 year ago
Reply to  eclipse

No need for the Royal Navy to be embarrassed. With Russia and China on the warpath etc. all of us as a Team/ Allies need to get on with developing and growing our forces together. I am from Australia.

Col Bishop
Col Bishop
1 month ago
Reply to  eclipse

I doubt that we could crew more that four boats given the crew sizes are double that of the Collins class submarines. The RAN has severe manning issues with at least one Anzac class tied up because they can’t crew it.

Graham
Graham
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

I heard 8 was the magic number. More than enough for Australia’s purposes.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Graham

It might be the magic number but, as bad as our procurement is, if the RN can’t/won’t afford it the RAN definitely can’t afford it.

Pete
Pete
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

The RAN are not operating boomers and they are not operating carrier strike and they don’t have such a large surface combat fleet. Surrounded by huge expanses of blue water the SSN option is the correct solution. I suspect they will end up with vertical launch Asm / cruise land attack capability as well. They were facing a black hole of a money pit with the French option (latest estimates were North of $60 billion). The ADF are not the largest forces on the planet but they are generally very well trained, taken seriously by their government, and consequently are… Read more »

DJ
DJ
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

You are forgetting that UK also has very expensive SSBN’s as well to pay for. Australian GDP is around half UK GDP. So a fleet equivalent to half the RN should be possible. Australia was already planning on spending billions on new large submarines. Price goes up, but quantity goes down to compensate (12 down to 8).

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago

The Guardian and all the self loathers will be seething.
A positive announcement.

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

I’d like to see NZ & Canada on board too. Some additional NZ soldiers & sailors, not to mention having an air force would be good. Canada could easily operate a few SSNs in the far north and some additional air assets too.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

Well they’re 5 eyes too already.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago

But yes, agree!

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago

Expansion of 5 Eyes was stymied by NZ who are presently scared stiff of upsetting China. I suspect t this is a way of getting around that barrier and perhaps even putting pressure on NZ though in reality they have little e tea to offer. Canada would certainly be a welcome addition and it’s subs do need replacing. What their attitude is to acquiring nuclear subs mind I have no idea or whether their a sense from this is significant or otherwise, their relations with China are pretty poor after all and they have a lot to offer this ‘alliance’… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

Yes, I agree. “Expansion of 5 Eyes was stymied by NZ” I would not want expansion of the UKUSA agreement anyway. It is an exclusive club and should remain so. There are also the 9 eyes and 14 eyes with nations like Germany and Norway involved but they are not privy to the core 5 eyes material. I still recall during the B chaos the media and EU gleefully telling everyone how excluded the UK would be intelligence wise. Ha. Total cobblers. We are a core part of the greatest espionage and SIGINT alliance the world has ever seen. A… Read more »

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago

Hi Daniele, sadly there is much left wing opposition to the 5 eyes gig here in NZ! I worry about the future here.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Klonkie

You’ve not fallen yet though? Enough of the silent majority who will stand up to it?

NZ covers the south Pacific through Waihopai, another nation would strep in, probably USA or Aus, if the government went there went full on woke and disarmed their intell machinery too.

James
James
2 years ago

Yes I did have to laugh at the entire the UK would be excluded from the intelligence line, genuinely was one of the arguments that they need us more than them being twisted.

David Flandry
David Flandry
2 years ago

“We are a core part of the greatest espionage and SIGINT alliance the world has ever seen.”

Amen, second to none.

David Flandry
David Flandry
2 years ago

Afraid its too late for a RNZAF. Sartup costs too much(self loathers will love that).

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

The current Canadian election probably prevented an agreement with them at the moment. Whereas the sharing of technology for Australia’s submarines required US and U.K.
Wouldn’t be surprised at seeing the Canadians and Kiwis join later.

chris
chris
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Kiwis are highly unlikely to go Nuclear anytime soon. Remember they had a big disagreement with the US over not allowing a Nuclear capable warship berth in NZ sometime ago and they, still to this day are very anti nuclear anything.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  chris

Doh nobody said the Kiwis are going to go nuclear 🤦‍♂️

AUKUS is way more than a technology sharing programme for passing on nuclear submarine capability.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Kiwis wont. They simply don’t have the GDP, industry, or justification to do it. The defence budget is 3bn USD so they would be able to purchase one a year and nothing else (no maintenance, personnel… literally nothing). They might join in to some UUV programme that either the U.K./US (or them together) will inevitably start. The Canadians though… they’re spending a lot of money on the CSCs (T26) so I’m not sure whether they could afford it either. But if they could get some, even if just 2-4, it would be very helpful for the West indeed.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

FFS of course the Kiwis aren’t going to buy a SSN. 🤦‍♂️
But AUKUS is more than just about building SSNs.
I can definitely see them joining in other initiates, particularly drones which would give them a much greater return on their limited resources.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Oh, yes I probably should have read it like that 😆 oops silly me. I thought you meant join in the SSN building… yes AUKUS + Canada and NZ is a good idea. essentially a stronger FVEY with actual military ties instead of just intel.

David Flandry
David Flandry
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

NZ gave up subs decades ago.Its all they can do to find money for t two underarmed frigates.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  David Flandry

If you’d bother to read posts before ranting you’d realise I never talked about NZ getting subs. Idiot.

Liam
Liam
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Given the Kiwi’s current approach to China I would not want them involved.

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Liam

Lol have you somehow not seen the amount of Chinese investment in the UK lately. We rely on Chinese imports for so many products critical to our economy. Yet its only NZ who are guilty of being too friendly with China? Interesting.

Liam
Liam
2 years ago
Reply to  Bluemoonday

I was not commenting on that particular point however as you raise it I agree with your assessment of the threat from the Chinese government acquiring commercial property.

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Liam

It is not so much the threat any such investment might pose, but more the fact this investment is encouraged and welcome.
Are the UK really standing up to China much more than NZ after all?

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  Bluemoonday

Ask the Chinese ?

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Good point and convenient for all concerned for the moment I suspect so as not to rock too many boats and e land it in steps as required.

Quentin D63
Quentin D63
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

I like to see NZ have a couple of long range subs to complement their fleet. I think NZ may only accept diesels though. Doesn’t it still have an anti nuclear stance? Maybe it’ll be too expensive an option for their defence budget.
Canada with its big coastline, large patrol area, Pacific, Atlantic and Artic, getting a large T26 fleet, new subs and MPAs would be significant a force multiplier.

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Quentin D63

Absolutely no chance of that happening, being at complete odds with NZ’s well established no nuclear policy.

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  Bluemoonday

As a Kiwi, do you see us signing up to this new alliance perhaps under a different government) ?

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Klonkie

Can’t see it happening and not sure why we should either? The threat from China seems completely overblown and if there was ever a real threat or conflict then I’m sure we would contribute in some manner, without having to subscribe to this overly aggressive agenda.

David Flandry
David Flandry
2 years ago
Reply to  Quentin D63

No chance for SSKs for RNZN.

Mike
Mike
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

The NZ Prime Minister has already stated that Australian nuclear powered submarines will not be permitted to enter NZ territorial waters.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/nz-says-australias-new-nuclear-submarines-must-stay-out-its-waters-2021-09-16/

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  Mike

😂 ok, lets see them enforce it.

Mike
Mike
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

I am sure the CCP will be of help……………

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

No need. The main point is that nuclear powered or armed assets will not have access to NZ ports or facilities.
If the Aussies or anyone else for that matter, wants to mess around in NZ water’s undetected, well that’s their decision.

David Flandry
David Flandry
2 years ago
Reply to  Bluemoonday

The CCPPLAN will be in NZ waters as desired.

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

We will Chris. We will send a strongly worded letter to Mr Morison in Canbera telling them how disappointed we are.

Andrew Fyfe
Andrew Fyfe
2 years ago
Reply to  Mike

So within 12 miles of the coast then!
Not much of a problem at all.

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I don’t care what she says- I live in NZ and believe she is out of her depth here (pun intended). A little girl who knows twice the square root of f**k all! Excuse my outburst, I am frustrated by NZ’s position of sitting on the fence!

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

Sorry Rob, highly unlikely the current government here in NZ would entertain the idea. They do what they do best: sit on the fence and talk to people like they are addressing a kindergarten class. Pardon my sarcasm , no doubt you sense my frustration.

I hope this alliance expands to bring in Japan, Korea and India, Time to curb Chinese expansion imperialism.

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Klonkie

The no nuclear policy has been established in NZ for almost 40 year’s.
It’s why we were kicked out of ANZUS and no doubt the reason we were not allowed to join this little shin dig.
But we should still lay all that at Jacinda’s door right, as you seem to insist?
As for this nonsense about curbing Chinese expansion, can you not see the hypocrisy in that concept? China hasn’t exactly relocated to the Western Pacific you know? Are they deploying Carrier’s to the Northern Atlantic to curb American or British expansion?

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  Bluemoonday

They sent warships through the English Channel this summer.

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  Bluemoonday

Hello BM. Apologies for my late reply to you post, In the interest of robust political debate, I disagree with your view. As for ANZUS I’d personally Id rather see us in, however It is for the people to decide and I bow to the will of the majority. I do however foresee a Pacrim alliance forming, similar in concept to Nato. Plenty of appetite beyond the US/UK/AUS. Japan , S,Korea, India and Taiwan are natural candidates. China expansion is self evident, it is not nonsense. The artificial islands in the Chins Sea for a start. I note you did… Read more »

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Klonkie

I do support Taiwan’s right to self determination. Interestingly, so does the US and yet there is an official policy not to recognise the ROC. So it is a strange situation for all involved. Now, what I want to know is how can those who get so upset at even the idea of China invading Taiwan, when the English did exactly that to Ireland? Sure, that was a long time ago, but there has been plenty of opportunities within living memory to practice what we preach? Or how about the Cuban sanctions and the Bay of Pigs fiasco? It is… Read more »

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  Bluemoonday

Absolutely re your point on the bay of pigs. But I think it more useful to reference current events rather than those of half a century ago. I thought you were likely to raise the Iraq fiasco which is portably the most relevant example. I think it is unreasonable to reference historical events from hundreds of year ago, One should see these events in the context of their times. One could make the same argument about the Romans, Normans, the Mongols and the spread of Islam. The most important point of difference between us and China that we have have… Read more »

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago

I’m Labour, read the Guardian since 15ish.

I hope it allows true sharing, enables the Aus to begin work on the next fleet subs that the UKUS can buy into AND enable the US to shoehorn in T26 rather than 40 more ffx.

This, potentially, is fantastic news.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Good to see you obviously dismiss many of its pronouncements then. Like treating Snowden like a God, treating GCHQ, one of this nations crown jewels, like an enemy for collecting intelligence to try and stop people being blown up, suggesting the UK should do away with our military completely, championing JC, and saying GB Olympians should not display the flag of the UK as it’s “divisive”

Just a few gems I’ve seen in that publication over the years.

Good luck to you and good to see not all its readers are stark raving lunatics.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago

Man, is the UK i’m coming back to in less than 2 weeks time after 16 years abroad?

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago

What’s the question?

Stand Off Rocket Man
Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

I think it’s obvious. Are people so blinded by their particular political agenda that they cease to have some common sense? For instance, my wife’s brother, an intelligent woman, once said to me that she would just sell off the nuclear deterrent as it’s useless. Now, i’m all for a World where there are no nuclear weapons but am bright enough, well I reckon bright enough, to know that getting rid of our deterrent would be a huge mistake. The Russians would love it, the Chinese would would love it, the Iranians would love it, the North Koreans would love… Read more »

Expat
Expat
2 years ago

Afraid so. I returned a few years back at a long stint overseas considering leaving again. There’s very little understanding amongst large parts of the UK population about the wider world. Most get spoon fed their binary view of the world via their chosen media outlets, groups or forums.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

Try working with Americans!!

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

MURICA FUCK YEAH.

YOU KNOW WE KICKED YOUR ASSES IN 1812 AND WHERE THE NATION THAT ABOLISHED SLAVERY ACROSS THE WORLD! U-S-A. U-S-A.
OH AND DEMOCRACY IS GREAT BECAUSE WE INVENTED IT!
everyone else: *faceplam*

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

Got to love a good septic, bless them.

julian1
julian1
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

don’t you think that’s true of any nation’s population? I do. Where media is privately owned and run that will always be the case. Brits travel in considerable numbers – its up to them to research their sources

Expat
Expat
2 years ago
Reply to  julian1

Hmm government owned news outlets can be a whole lot worse imo there’s no silver bullet. People just don’t bother researching. Brits do travel but Spain or other resort holidays etc is hardly likely to broaden people’s view of the world.

Neil o'Neill
Neil o'Neill
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

That’s the same as most countries though. In my experience not just central to uk

Stand Off Rocket Man
Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

I’m coming back from Russia where the spoon feeding is to another level lol That said, there are enough people that see through it that gives me some hope for humanity.

I do think the lack of understanding is maybe an international thing, not just inherent to the UK.

Has the UK become so politically correct that anything a person says is pounced on?

As much as the UK may have changed, possibly for the worse, it will be better than here in most ways.

Rule Britannia!!

Expat
Expat
2 years ago

We’re so PC now I personally think free speech in the UK no longer exists. People would rather keep quiet than be labelled if they say something that another doesn’t like.

Stand Off Rocket Man
Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Expat

Well then i’m screwed as I refuse not to be honest about things… one of the reasons I ‘must’ leave Russia lol

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago

Likewise. Say it as it is. It is your right and they usually back down, like a bully, when one stands their ground.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago

… and mocking the task force for touring the Pacific when it claimed our major trading partners are in Europe. The nativity of that statement is simply crass, in not understanding, or perhaps just wantonly ignoring the fact that a major conflict in that part of the Pacific would effectively and indefinitely remove in one move most of the tech or its core ingredients from all that we need to actually carry out trade or business effectively with anyone in the 21st C seemed to elude them. Pains me to see a once great paper sink into little more than… Read more »

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

As Babcock builds a carrier deal with South Korea, ties are established with Japan on 5th gen aircraft and the UK announces what might be the largest monetary value defence deal in history with Aus. At this rate a CSG should be in the pacific every year.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

There was talk a while ago about forward basing a QNELIZ class CSG at the new base in the gulf (I forget now which country it’s in….Oman?). That would make more frequent sorties into the Indo-Pacific much more practical.

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago
Reply to  Gareth

I think the plan is to forward base a Littoral support group not a carrier.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Gareth

Its Bahrain, not sure its intended to have a carrier based at it though.

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  James

It’s Duqm in Oman and I think it’s for both LSG’s and any visiting CSG’s.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  David Steeper

So whats the money thats been spent in Bahrain on port facilities aswell?

David Steeper
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Geographically and Militarily Bahrain wouldn’t be a good choice for Carriers and a lesser extent LSG’s.To close to Iran.Good base but wrong place. Frigates and MCMV’s based there Gunbuster would know more than me.

Terence Patrick Hewett
Terence Patrick Hewett
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

Nativity has to be a typo, or have I missed something!

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago

Naivety?

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago

Could be auto-correct at it again. Made me smile though.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

Missed that. But hardly surprising. With them the world ends at the EU’s borders. The growing markets are elsewhere.

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

a natively crass statement? :O

Matt C
Matt C
2 years ago

Don’t forget solving the Middle East by having tea and biscuits with Hamas…

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago

You forgotten Daniele, the proposed Ministry of Disarmament by Labour!

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

😳 I have. Never heard of it. My my.

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago

Yes it’s true! Labour has a position of Shadow Minister of Disarmament, in the HoC! I hope for God, No one shadow’s him/her!

Last edited 2 years ago by Meirion x
Jon
Jon
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

Have I been on a six month bender and lost all memory? No, it’s not April the first. Okay I’ll search for it.

And there it is: Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament. Fabian Hamilton.

I wonder if he knows the words to Kumbaya. Current geopolitics doesn’t sit too well with swords into ploughshares.

John Clark
John Clark
2 years ago

Indeed Daniele, a very encouraging announcement Indeed, it came as somewhat of a surprise to me! So, I would think the only real option is a Virginia Class derivative, numbers wise, a minimum of 6 and an ideal of 12, possibly 9?? Certainly a fleet of 12 Virginia class, with 8 operational at any one time, would be an exceptionally capable ‘big stick’ of Australian foreign policy! The Australians can leverage in on US training and perhaps a couple of boats on loan to get an early capability. They would be capable of inflicting enormous damage to a potential adversary,… Read more »

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

The Australian defence budget has just been increased to @£25b. This figure reflects the high value of the $A. Anything made in Australia is very expensive.
The costs of the submarine contract with France are reported to have risen to $US60b, this partly as a result of localising production.
I do not see how Australia can build a fleet of 12 nuclear boats at a price it can afford.
It would be more economical and quicker to buy complete vessels.
Given production constraints, these would most likely be built in USA.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

Talk seems to be of 8 SSNs instead of the 12 diesels the French promised.

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Even that many would be a struggle, and rather embarrassing for the UK!

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

Don’t see why it’s embarrassing for the U.K. Each country tailors the type and strength of its military forces according to its own unique requirements…
Should Austria be embarrassed because it doesn’t have aircraft carriers? Of course not.

Jack
Jack
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Austria doesn’t even have Kangaroos.

(Aussie here, never get tired of that mix-up)

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

The hilarious irony missed by many, including Australia’s current policy makers and their nationalist lobbyists is that a massive percentage of its GDP is derived from export trade with China.
Australia is selling China the very resources it needs to build and grow the military it now claims they have to defend themselves against?

Dern
Dern
2 years ago

I learned of this from a twitter post complaining about “floating Chernobyl’s”
Of course, technically submarines don’t float.

Jason M Holmes
Jason M Holmes
2 years ago

Aussies going nuclear…wow!

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason M Holmes

Powered. Not weapons.
All the leaders were keen to emphasise that point as so many wouldnt know the difference from an SSN and SSBN. They just hear nuclear and think bomb.
Not saying that’s you BTW.

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago

Ideally, they should be made capable of launching nuclear weapons… just in case!.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago

Well technically it would be possible to launch nuclear tipped cruise missiles I guess. They may even like other navies SSNs be built with vertical launch tubes for a range of missiles too to launch so not potentially out of the question in the future to be nuclear tipped in some form esp if mouth pieces like the Global Times keeps up threatening them with destruction if they don’t become China’s lapdog. Politically acceptable though, who knows.

Positroll
Positroll
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

Conventional or hyper-velocity BMs capable of hitting the 3 gorges dam would be plenty dissuasion, without the need to go nuclear. There are 400mio Chinese living downstream …

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago
Reply to  Positroll

Yep. but PRC would probably retaliate by nuking Australia.

Goldilocks
Goldilocks
2 years ago

I hear Tomohawk once had a nuclear warhead, so….

Jason M Holmes
Jason M Holmes
2 years ago

As I said, Aussie going nuclear, wow

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason M Holmes

You missed the ! this time 😉 Yes, it’s great news.

Bluemoonday
Bluemoonday
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason M Holmes

Going nuclear powered is one thing, but I hope this doesn’t lead to the development or purchase of nuclear weapons.

Graham
Graham
2 years ago

Yep they will only have conventional weapons … for now.

Trevor W Hogg
Trevor W Hogg
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason M Holmes

Yes Im surprise at that as well. The current plan is for 12 Diesel Electric based on a French design, so adding some SSNs will be interesting. No news on this over here however.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Trevor W Hogg

I don’t think there adding, but cancelling the French contract. Probably why Biden was commenting on relationship with France in his part of the announcement.

Trevor W Hogg
Trevor W Hogg
2 years ago

Just been watching the news over here. Stating they have cancelled the $90billion French deal for the 12 Diesel Electric Subs. No word on how many Subs would be required, where they would be built, or who by.

Andrew Thorne
Andrew Thorne
2 years ago
Reply to  Trevor W Hogg

They are cancelling the French submarines according to press reports.

tomuk
tomuk
2 years ago
Reply to  Trevor W Hogg

The SSNs are in place of the the new diesel boats. Australian press reporting that AUS Defence Minister has been to see Macron to cancel the deal.

Andrew Thorne
Andrew Thorne
2 years ago
Reply to  tomuk

Glad they are cancelling the french subs as the UK and US ones are much more advanced.

Finney
Finney
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Thorne

The main issue is that the Australians want the boats to be built in Australia when they have very little current experience and infrastructure in this field. I feel the French probably said “yeah we can set that up for you, easy”, and it’s obviously turned out to be more complicated and costly, for what are rather mediocre boats for Pacific conditions. Setting up SSN production will be 3x more difficult. If they are prepared to order major components and sub-assemblies from the US and UK then fine, they might get their subs in 3-5 years. If they want to… Read more »

Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon
2 years ago
Reply to  Finney

Good Morning, Finney. Maybe not so much.
Reading Norman Friedman’s ‘British Submarines in the Cold War’, who’s insights are always fascinating. Extent to which we lost our design expertise and skill base, and the naive political and commercial assumptions that followed, explains a lot over how Astute took so long to constitute. Led us to go sort of cap in hand to the US for professional advice.
With US, and now UK to an extent, nurturing Australia it’s entirely feasible to my mind.

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago
Reply to  Finney

Yes Australia does not have a specialist steel maker like Sheffield Forgemasters that can make reactor vessels with a press.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Thorne

I have to say I coincidentally watched a vid of those proposed boats only yesterday and they do look poor so if looks do mean anything a British or US sub will certainly be a better bet. Interestingly the sonar side panels on those boats were going to be supplied by Britain which tends to support the often heard contention that we are at the forefront of submarine sonar technology.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  tomuk

Apparently the French deal has been in trouble fir some time with the Australians unimpressed by slow progress.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

Yes the French have claimed it’s due to Aus.changes to the design (sounds familiar) and the level of locally sourced content but apparently the Aus leadership have been asking for Britain and the US to supply a nuclear alternative since at least March. Fact is the Pacific needs those sort of subs to be really effective against a level 1 power and you just know the Chinese will start pushing Aus boundaries as they already do with Japan and even the US on Hawaii so this will be a great deterrent in the way that diesel boats just can’t be.… Read more »

Pete
Pete
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

The Australian management of the French project was shocking, and the Internal project managment from Naval was chaotic with constant uturns and incidences of paris ignoring previously agreed project plans. Probably fair to say that the project was also struggling to fullfil its local content obligations. Australian intent is for SSN project to be Adelaide based.

Andrew Thorne
Andrew Thorne
2 years ago
Reply to  Pete

The French always change the parameters. I can well imagine the French said no problem you can build them in Oz and then changed what was agreed half-way through…reminds me of the French involvement in the Eurofighter. Never trust the French to keep their word on industrial projects. Glad the Aussies are going with the US and UK as they won’t regret the decision. Maybe the first three boats might be done with a work share between the US and UK but we can hold their hands through the process so they develop the capability. I’m laughing very hard at… Read more »

Pete
Pete
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew Thorne

The French Foreign Minister on TV was a sight to behold.. 😆

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago
Reply to  Trevor W Hogg

The Australian Collins class were diesel boats based on the French Barracuda nuclear design however the contractor have reportedly had a lot of trouble fitting a diesel power plant in place of the more compact nuclear and haven’t been able to solve the weight issue.

Last edited 2 years ago by Watcherzero
BB85
BB85
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

I’m surprised the French did not try to switch to nuclear if it’d what the Australians now want. AIP would been a huge mistake as it just doesn’t have the speed and endurance to patrol the south China Sea from Australia. It works well in the med and baltic where subs patrol territorial waters.

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

*Australian Attack class

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Aren’t the Collins the present long in the tooth class?

Pete
Pete
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

The Collins class are the current in service vessels that were to be replaced by the French boats…but yes…multiple problems technically and politically

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago

Australia get nuclear boats is really big news indeed and it makes complete sense, electric boats in the Pacific is always going to be sub optimal. This is really the Australians giving notice that they are not just sticking to their own bit of the Pacific. I wonder how long it will be before they have carrier based f35s.

JohninMK
JohninMK
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Very good move by the Australians, replacing the deisel electric boats with long duration SSNs will move their defensive line much further north in the Pacific. I doubt a carrier based task force is needed with those SSNs putting any potential Chinese move south at serious risk, especially with the shared positional intel via the 5 Eyes network.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  JohninMK

Exactly it saves big potential money on those other options which would be much more of a requirement if they only had diesel boats. But also much more vulnerable too.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Indeed. As part of the tech transfer I wonder if they’ll get someone like BAe to heat treat the Canberra’s so they can take the F-35? (Unless that’s already happened and I missed it…)

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago

Any guesses on the size of the future subs? More American than British input?

Chris
Chris
2 years ago

The knowledge pool agreement is already joint US-UK between Electric Boat, Bath, BAE, GE and Rolls Royce. EB actually improved the build process for the astute by changing it dramatically. The agreement adds Australia. Which contractor down there is remotely qualified to handle this, I have no idea.

From Boris’s speech it sounds like it will be an all new design, developed jointly between the US and UK.

Brit-in-Oz
Brit-in-Oz
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

BAE Systems Australia with ASC, builders of the Collins Class submarines.

Already doing this with BAE Systems building the Hunter Class Frigate (a variant of the UK Global Combat Ship + US AEGIS combat system) having already merged in ASC Shipbuilding.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Gave a lot of info on their new more compact reactor design to RR too I believe, though that I think is for the Dreadnaughts. One of the reasons the Astutes have that rear bustle is the fact the reactor is based on the previous design for the bigger deterrent boats. Lots of power but can’t quite exploit it I believe as a result.

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

It does indeed have more reactor power than it can output through its screws as the reactor was designed for a much larger ballistic missile submarine. The plus side is it extended the refuel time such that they only had to be refilled once rather than every decade, even before the concept of submarine reactors that are never refilled during their lifetime came along.

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago

The Australians want the domestic submarine build to be a domestic industrial/technological development program (and at $90bn Au so would you) and the contractor was required to build up the Australian industrial and shipyard capability so that they could all be built in Australia (I think at most they were allowed is to ship partial hull sections to Australia for completion for the first couple of boats). The US however rarely let go of their advanced technology other than sonar/targeting systems so Australia will likely have to rely more on the UK if they want to keep the domestic side.… Read more »

The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

I realise why they do it, but it always leaves a sour taste when the US don’t share with their closest allies. It definitely leaves me thinking that the UK should be prepared to go it alone if necessary and should most certainly maintain and grow it’s defence industry.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago

The US shares its most sensitive tech (SSBN, Trident, Tier 1 F-35) with the UK, but thats it. Who else do you really propose they share with?

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

I agree though I think this agreement brings Aus somewhat more into that magic circle by all accounts and very sensibly as it occupies the southern flank.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

I’m not sure. The tech on the Astutes (for today, not sure about in 10-15 years) seems to advanced to just let go. Astutes are ~£1.5bn so australia could definitely afford 6 including ToT. If it was going to have most of the tech on the astutes they would likely just licence-build them. Since they’re not, it seems they might be going for a different approach, perhaps more U.K.-US tech combined.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Sonar is almost certain to be British as that was already the plan on the French design.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

I doubt either the UK or the US would have the space capacity in the near future to build boats for Australia. We’re finishing Astute’s and starting Dreadnoughts while the US will be starting soon on their next generation SSBNs. Plus politically they’d have to be built in Australia, just as RN ships are built in the U.K.

Given the U.K. is going to have to start thinking about what succeeds Astute, it would be interesting if a common design of SSN could be developed to serve Australia, the U.K., and even possibly the US’s requirements…

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

I think that is where this is going: a common boat. Both the UKUS navies are viewing a new boat and an Aus boat would acr as a percursor.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

That would be very late for the Australians. US is still busy building Virginias, and we are still building Astutes. If we start building SSNR by 2035, they will at best come in to service by the early 2040s and realistically 2045. That’s a decade later than the Aussies wanted Shortfin. And anyway, Australia doesn’t need a boat the size that the U.K. and USA have.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Well given the amount of BAE in straya and a transitioning of workforce from Astute to Dreadnoughts, my premise was whether Straya could begin the initial design workups thus giving Barrow a leg up when it came to building future SSNs; as 1SL said yesterday, there are only 6 SSNs in situ at the moment and it is not nearly enough…

I’m hopeful 🙂

simon alexander
simon alexander
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

if they were willing to buy french sub with diesel they could order nuclear powered french sub.

Steve D
Steve D
2 years ago

Exactly my thoughts. Surely the work done to date on Attack could be ported back into the parent nuclear design relatively easily, if the Aussies are intent on having their US combat system. If nuclear is what they wanted, why not work with their existing partner? ASC is already well on its way to being refitted to build Attack, and Barracuda is not so different that they probably could build it there without much rework. This seems like a pretty straight up FU to the French, frankly.

Expat
Expat
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

That’s my thoughts keeps our toe in the water on the design of attack subs and awareness of manufacturing technologies used. We get apply lessons learnt to our next attack sub.

simon alexander
simon alexander
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

amazing complexity of international politics, skill pool, manufacturing capacity

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago

I would imagine the hull was primarily based on the Astute as thats more advanced than the Virginia but likely would have a US reactor probably built in the US as a complete module and shipped for installation due to the advanced alloys and welding techniques required for it. Australians have also shown a preference for US weapons over British, rest of boat probably primarily British with British yards setting up Australian yards to assemble and fit out them and possibly British hull steel being supplied as well. Britain would also likely want to share the Australian homebase to support… Read more »

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Sounds like a plan 👍🏻

simon alexander
simon alexander
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

hi watcherzero share your faith that astute is the best and our silent service is top class, but suspect aussie may go for American option, they are the superpower. can uk provide a permanent astute presence in the pacific

Chris
Chris
2 years ago

“We’re working with Congress to make sure that we have that authority to invest in Australia and the U.K.,” Jesse Salazar, the Pentagon’s deputy assistant secretary for industrial policy, said at an event at George Mason University on Wednesday.”

Sounds like the U.K. will be involved in the build. It’s likely all refueling will have to take place in the US or UK.

DJ
DJ
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

No refuelling required. These are the 30 years without refuelling type reactor.

James
James
2 years ago

Welcome news but just nonsense really, 20+ years before any aus ssn is in the water if ever

Paul42
Paul42
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Not so much nonsense, if the will is there, it can and will happen. But it will certainly be a good few years before the first boat is actually rolled out! Look at the UK Astute build times, boat 5 is in the water but yet to go on sea trials and meantime the RN is struggling on with old T boats.

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

Yes, but there was a reason why build rate slowed significantly between hull 3 and 4.
The first 3 boats were built to the same configuration, and experience gained from this has resulted in some required changes to be built into hull 4 onwards. It’s not a simple process changing designs on these things. It takes time, hence the slow down, hulls 6 and 7 will be built more quickly.

Paul42
Paul42
2 years ago
Reply to  Deep32

The overall build time for 7 boats is very lengthy. Astute was badly delayed by one problem after another, and Audacious went down the same road, albeit the first of the 4 ‘improved’ boats. When you consider what it’s taken to get this far, Australia is unlikely to see its first boat this side of 2030

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

You are correct that the overall build time is slow for the 7 boats, but that was part due to HMGs decision to slow the build rate down post T class. We lost a lot of experienced people from Barrow, skills that take years to acquire. A lot of help from the US eventually got us on track, hence the big delay with Astute herself.
Australia will need to start from scratch, lots of money and time required for that, so, I imagine that 2030 is not a unrealistic time frame to get its first boat.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Deep32

Another reason was robbing peter to pay paul with items taken from in build to in service boats, to keep the latter operational…

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

I think the idea of this initiative is that Australia avoids these problems previously encountered on U.K. and US builds by the sharing of experience and technology. So for example, they’ll most probably from the start build them in vertical sections as EB advised BAE to do, which resulted in faster construction of later Astute’s.

Hetzer38t
Hetzer38t
2 years ago

Surely Astute would be perfect for them. Nice size, very capable and tried and tested. Would probably be on station well before any French boat would have been.

Andrew
Andrew
2 years ago

Jacinda lies in bed with China.
Biden is a senile lunatic.
Australia is dictatorship, no longer a democratic nation.

Yet we have to work with this lot … terrifying.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

I don’t know much about NZ or AUS but I’ve definitely heard about the former. Why is Australia a dictatorship though?

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Don’t worry Andrew is fundamentally a troll 👹

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

I assume you think the earth is flat too and Corvid-19 caused by 5G? 😂

dave12
dave12
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

There is a lot worst out there Andrew maybe revise your perspective?

John N
John N
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

Australia a dictatorship? Seriously?

What rock have you just crawled out from under?

I’m Australian and that is a load of crap you wanker.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

“Australia a dictatorship? Seriously?”

It is certainly a Totalitarian Democracy. One of countries with less freedom to live on.

John N
John N
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Another wanker.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

New word for you, “oxymoron”, of which “Totalitarian Democracy” would be a good example. 😂

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

I see you don’t understand either concepts of Democracy and of Totalitarianism.

Democracy is just the wining of vote by majority.
Majorities can vote to burn the witches, vote you can only dress with a burka, vote to forbid you to build an internal combustion engine, vote to put a yellow tag in your chest etc etc…

The control that the Government have over people lives regardless if it was by vote or by coup is what defines if it is Totalitarian or not.

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

You clearly don’t understand totalitarianism, or democracy. According to you, if a government does anything you don’t agree with, then it’s totalitarian… by any chance did you have temper tantrums as a child when you couldn’t get your own way?… Democracy still operates within the rule of law and cannot administrator justice: cf separation of powers. As for the your examples, no democracy has ordered citizens to wear yellow badges, wear a burka, or burn witches. 🤦‍♂️ As for banning the ICE… Well an elected democratic government’s first duty is to protect its citizens. I assume you’re equally upset on… Read more »

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Sean

“Democracy still operates within the rule of law and cannot administrator justice: cf separation of powers.” This phrase tells me you don’t understand the concept of Democracy and Totalitarianism. I specifically said that the decision was taken by vote when why called it Totalitarian Democracy, it implies voting by definition, but it is telling you choose to ignore it and posted the above. Voting means laws. Laws are authorization for state to wage violence on behalf of majority. The more laws you have the more violence can the state make on behalf of majority. You are so closed in your… Read more »

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

So basically, you don’t believe in wars, states, or basically human civilisation. Well you’re free to return to a hunter-gather existence living in caves or trees, all alone. There’s no laws against that and it’s the only way you’ll be happy. But before you to your hole in the ground, I’d point out that laws do not equate to violence. If anything laws prevent violence and in most civilised countries, particularly here in the U.K., we observe laws by consent of the public. That’s why we have a small unarmed police force, unlike totalitarian regimes like North Korea or Cuba… Read more »

Bill
Bill
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

Well said!

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

Gotta love the Aussies.

John N
John N
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Yes we are a loveable bunch! Ha ha!

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

True 😉 … Especially one of your attached MPs flooring one of our Lt MPs in the of 170, but then, he was just class whatever he did 😉

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

…Mess…

Sean
Sean
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

After having dated 3 Aussie girls over the years I’d definitely have to give an unqualified “yes” to that 😉

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

Well said mate.

John N
John N
2 years ago

Thanks mate!

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

Welcome to the Troll bashing club. They’re easy to spot. Commonly have very few posts to their name of any substance and vanish after their “drive by shooting”

John N
John N
2 years ago

Daniele, mate, I’m used to dealing with trolls and wankers, no biggie. But they’ve been out in force today on the various Defence websites such as here UKDJ, The WarZone, Defence Talk, etc. There’s been one particular French guy on TWZ who’s butt hurt today, real butt hurt, very funny. Anyway, been an amazing almost 24hrs here in Oz, last night I received a news notification that the PM was doing an early morning press conference in Canberra. Then a bit later, a bit more news dribbled out, something about the French Attack class, then really late there were reports… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  John N

I don’t look at any of those, this is enough for me. I also follow UKAFC and Gabriel’s blog but that does not have such a comment section or daily updates.

The Anglosphere should stick together, above all.

Regards.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago

“The Anglosphere should stick together, above all.”

Haha, when Winston statues barely survive and the supporters of the major Anglosphere hate him, you have only a pretence.
At present there is more freedom in Continental Europe than in England where even a priest reading the bible is taken by police.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

That the woke brigade and PC is strong in many countries does not change the desire and natural inclination for anglosphere nations to stick together. That means the UK instinctively feels more at home with the Commonwealth and English speaking nations that continental Europe who’s priority is France/Germany over everything. “supporters of the major Anglosphere hate him,” That is not proper English, so no idea what you are getting at. There are woke PC elements. And? There are many MORE supporters of Winston and our traditions, they are the silent majority and put up with the crap. For now. As… Read more »

John Clark
John Clark
2 years ago

Well said Daniele, There’s certainly a strong element of French embarrassment regarding the US/ UK liberation. Something they have never ‘quite’ managed to come to grips with. I think the French aren’t really sure regarding their world position anymore, they have this odd juxtaposition of being a nuclear world power and a proud independent ‘ish’ nation. On the other hand, they are shackled to the EU and under ‘considerable’ German influence by natural extension. I get the district feeling that the EU’s wish to really jump start a significant military wing, is in effect an effort to really take some… Read more »

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

Yeah I’m convinced 🤪

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

😂 Well the Kiwis have fallen under the spell of the wicked witch Jacinda. She has locked them in to ‘protect’ them from covid. They need to read up on Little Red Riding Hood. Well for the US it was either a senile unifying president or a barbarian. The well balanced people of America have made a sane choice, just. Australia does seem to be stabilising. They don’t seem to be changing Prime Ministers every 6 months. That’s got to be progress. But they do need to read up on King Canute. You can’t beat the covid tide. Get wet… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Paul.P
John Clark
John Clark
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

Well said Paul…

Australia and New Zealand thought Covid would take a similar trajectory to Spanish flu and burn out after three years.

It doesn’t seem to be doing that, so you can’t just man the barricades!

You have to mass vaccinate and learn to live with it, until Covid eventually becomes just anothe flu type bug

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

Pau,l your observation re Tax-inda Ardern are spot on! But some of us here will not drink from her woke cool aid !

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  Klonkie

👍

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

So Australia is like China then?

Not from what I hear from relations down there!

Last edited 2 years ago by Meirion x
AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago

It will all end in tears. It is actually quite ridiculous, the submarines will at least take 15-20 years to be operational.

Instead the breaking with France in this manner will have a giant cost.

Last edited 2 years ago by AlexS
nomad77
nomad77
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

“…breaking with France will have…a giant cost.” Reported to be $400 million AUD. I’m Aus see this as both good and bad. Electric boats offer unique and ‘silent’ abilities that differ to nuc and the idea of a war and a nuc boat sunk leaking rad’ at the bottom of the sea is seriously ugly. But we need the most powerful we can get to hold our own so can see the reasoning too. They just finished a detailed design review on the Attack class porgramme here to decide if they wanted to continue, makes me wonder what they found… Read more »

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  nomad77

You have lots of coastline and vast distances to cover, nuclear boats can leap 500nm in a 24 HR period, DE SMs can’t get anywhere near that.
DE boats are v quiet, less big noisy moving parts, but lack speed/persistence. It’s horses for courses between the two types.
In an ideal world AUS navy would have both, SSNs fwd deployed with global reach, and SSKs for area denial/security closer to your shores.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Are you a Francophile or something? Why focus on the france aspect of this…? Australia has not been satisfied with Naval group for a while now and I doubt they would have achieved anything operational any time soon. It would have issues, and NG’s excuse would be because “the Ministry of Defence tampered too much and made edits along the way”. We’ve heard that before 😂 the SSNs will at least be able to confidently operate in the SCS and adjacent regions against China.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Australia will not be satisfied with anyone if uses same ballpark it did with French.
Australia have no knowledge depth to build conventional submarines but insisting in high internal input assured the project was going no where.
With nuclear submarines it is even worse.
It was Australia that refused that the French nuclear submarines in first place, Since the class is adaptation of a SSN.

“Reported to be $400 million AUD”

You don’t get it. NATO is at risk.

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Oh please.

Ryan Brewis
Ryan Brewis
2 years ago
Reply to  Dern

I’ve seen that little gem bandied about on Reddit too. Rather amusing that AUKUS is meant to be some final death knell, the last nail in the coffin for NATO.
Meanwhile France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are all looking towards the Indo-Pacific and signing agreements with various nations.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

Well said Alex. I can’t believe that Biden and Johnson are not aware of the seismic diplomatic consequences of this move. It is astonishing that they went ahead and publicly trashed France, a major ally. If Biden wants Australia to step up and share more of the burden of containing China in the Pacific then militarily it could have been done by upgrading the sub order to French Barracuda nuclear subs. The sleighting of the French seems deliberate and sends a message that the US feels it cannot rely on France in its dealings with China. France will always put… Read more »

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

FABULOUS news. Australian’s are our brothers and sisters, damn right we are helping them.

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago

Great news, though a bit of a kick in the goollies for France. I’d like to see us getting those 12 diesel subs, but that won’t happen. I hope we’ll all show firmer support for Taiwan too. United with Japan, S Korea & others in the region we can guard freedom & domocracy in east Asia & Australasia.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

They’re too expensive. Would be cheaper (!!!!!) to get 12 more Astutes.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

though a bit of a kick in the goollies for France”

After Galileo how UTTERLY refreshing.

PG
PG
2 years ago

Perhaps the sub announcement is about a joint build which we can all acquire; maybe even a single virtual fleet.
Does Aus need something as gold-plated as an Astute?
Could the RN use a cheaper/less complex vessel (as well as Astute)?

Given the UK’s problems with build capacity and fleet size, a cheaper sub, jointly built, might give the the RN the chance of expanding in the medium term without breaking the bank.

Graham
Graham
2 years ago
Reply to  PG

My advice would be to go off the shelf. Virginia or Astute. Pick one.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  PG

So sort of like the type 31 to the type 26 then? Maybe we could piggyback off the Australian order and get a few boats out of this. Like we did with the Chinooks and the US. “For testing new equipment” or smth 😂

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  PG

In the SM world, cheap SMs usually means an SSK. Nuclear submarines aren’t cheap, economies of scale will bring the price down,dependent on how many the Australians decide to buy! You either commit to Nuclear boats or you go for SSKs. It appears that Aus are committing to SSNs. On a 1 for 3 basis, which is what we loosely work to, I would hazard a guess and say Australia will probably need 9-12 boats(at least 20 yrs work), as they have a huge area to cover. There is no spare capacity in any of the US/UK/FR yards, so any… Read more »

MikeB1947
MikeB1947
2 years ago
Reply to  PG

Whatever the final decision on design and building, I wonder how much input British defence industries will actually have. BAE Australia may undoubtedly be involved in building but we can expect that the White House and US Congress will be lobbying for the bulk of the contracts to be awarded to American defense contractors.

farouk
farouk
2 years ago

So I read the following article 10 months ago, and feel it may impart a little more info for some . I’ve set it up to delete itself after 7 days:
Page 1:
https://i.postimg.cc/y8yJKdJs/img166.jpg

farouk
farouk
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk
farouk
farouk
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk
farouk
farouk
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk
farouk
farouk
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk
farouk
farouk
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk
Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Thanks farouk.

Jon
Jon
2 years ago

I’m a bit confused. Aren’t Australia committed to conventionally powered French subs? Is this extra spending?

I remember when the US stopped us (the UK) helping Canada get nuclear powered subs. Our 1950s UK/US agreement gives the US a veto, so adding the US to this announcement is great news.

Last edited 2 years ago by Jon
Josh
Josh
2 years ago
Reply to  Jon

They canceled the French deal for this one. The French are completely furious over it.

OldSchool
OldSchool
2 years ago
Reply to  Jon

No. The French project is now history😂. The Aussie PM also announced a life extention program for the Collins class ( don’t know the details).

Admittedly I’m very surprised at the announcement as what sub class could be built in an acceptable time frame. The best at moment are Astute and Virginia but they are very large and will be superceeded by new designs which are being developed now I gather. Also domestic Australian politics may change all this…….

Jaralodo
Jaralodo
2 years ago

Seeing as the UK still has every nuclear sub that has been decommissioned awaiting dismantling, I think AUS would benefit if a Trafalgar class or two was transferred to them so they can become accustomed to operating nuclear vessels. I also imagine it would benefit their industrial base to have working nuclear subs, could be wrong on that though

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  Jaralodo

Not a very good idea at all. The two remaining T boats are 30+ yrs old, the technology is over 40 yo! A much better bet is to have some of their navy come over to both the UK and US and join our SM crews to start gaining experience on the power plants. It will be at least 8-10 yrs before the AUS navy gets its first SSN built, so plenty of time for personnel to gain valuable experience.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Deep32

I agree. Trying to operate a decommissioned Trafalgar will not only be very risky, but it will not be very fruitful; Astute is light years away from Trafalgar.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Deep32

You say that, just finished Hunter Killer and the point was made that our COs and XOs are ‘bred’ to lead, the Americans focus on nuclear engineering ability before promotion.

Wonder what ethos the Aussies will adopt.

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

TBF, our COs and XOs aren’t without nuclear engineering knowledge either, just not to the extent the US are.
We use specialists if you like that focus on their trades ie Warfare, Marine engineering or Weapon engineering. It’s a system that has served us well and works. I’m sure the US approach works for them too.
Horses for courses I would assume WRT the Australians.

Jaralodo
Jaralodo
2 years ago
Reply to  Deep32

Yeah, that is definitely the more sensible approach. Just wasn’t sure of the condition of the two remaining Trafalgar’s that are listed in active service and if it would be a workable solution to get a working SSN in Aussie hands faster

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago
Reply to  Deep32

“It will be at least 8-10 yrs before the AUS navy gets its first SSN built…”

It could be sooner, if some sections are to be built in the UK or US, e.g. reactor vessel.

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

Im not sure that’s possible, or how it might work. There is also the issue of how/where the reactor is fuelled!!!!

BigH1979
BigH1979
2 years ago
Reply to  Jaralodo

Did you see Trenchant on that documentary on 5? There was more rust than steel 😂😂

Jaralodo
Jaralodo
2 years ago
Reply to  BigH1979

Is it also on YouTube? I don’t think we have that channel in the states, but my parents do have a few different BBC channels so they might

BigH1979
BigH1979
2 years ago
Reply to  Jaralodo
Jaralodo
Jaralodo
2 years ago
Reply to  BigH1979

Thanks for the link. Trenchant had a rough go of making it out to the North Atlantic. Hard to see it making it to Australia after watching the documentary

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  Jaralodo

It’s why we assigned a Astute class to the CSG, the T boats are far to old for anything like that.

Paul T
Paul T
2 years ago
Reply to  BigH1979

I watched that documentary too – much more watchable than the BBC’s take on Submarine life ( albeit drama ).Yes plenty of Rust but also no Tiles.

JOHNT
JOHNT
2 years ago
Reply to  BigH1979

Yup not in good condition at all made for quite a drama, when the last of the Trafalgar’s retires in 2024 it will be longest a Nuc sub has been in service with the Royal Navy. Dockside trainers maybe I wouldn’t want to take a retired one out to see.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago

One red flag for the Australians is manning with many leaving for the mining industry… now, aiui the UK could not supply many but could the Americans? And just as in ‘Hunter Killer’ saw American XOs in Brit boats and vice versa, could that be expanded?

However, once more I see an opening for T26 entering the US navy.

Positroll
Positroll
2 years ago

This should be fun. The costs (financial and political) of trying to set up a nuclear industry in AUS will dwarf the Barracuda class costs, when all is said and done. AUS complained about (mostly self inflicted) delays for the current deal – what do they think the delays on this new idea will be? Theyll be starting with a 18 month period just to study the problem. UKs current Brexit problems will pale compared to what they might get with a furious France on the other side of the channel tunnel. And if I remember correctly, UK is sourcing… Read more »

Levi Goldsteinberg
2 years ago
Reply to  Positroll

A furious France? The world is quaking in its boots

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago

NASA still sources engines from Russia despite the climate… I don’t think france withholding any parts required for astute is really a threat.

Positroll
Positroll
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Russia really needs to obtain foreign currency by selling arms and similar stuff to anyone who can pay – even a China that then copies the newest models.
FRA likes to export weapons – but isnt nearly in the same desperate position. The EUR buys plenty of stuff.

But I agree that it wouldnt be the first thing to do. Much easier to simply tripple the wait time for lorries to and from the UK by being a bit more thorough on the controls, and have some customs officers happen to be ill at the same time …

Donaldson
Donaldson
2 years ago

Not only is the RAN getting more T26 than the Royal Navy but their also one upping us on SSNs “at least eight nuclear powered submarines”

https://www1.defence.gov.au/about/taskforces/nuclear-powered-submarine-task-force

OldSchool
OldSchool
2 years ago
Reply to  Donaldson

They’re an ally not a rival so good luck to them. They also don’t have carriers or nuclear missiles so not like for like. I’m just happy they’ve dumped the French which strangely they were having issues dealing with….hard to believe I know😂.

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

The Type 26 number is irrelevant since that will be their only escort except for 2 destroyers, for a total of eleven. We will have 24 escorts (and probably more considering where the world is going). However, it is not acceptable that the Royal Navy will have fewer boats than Australia. If Australia can afford 8, we should be able to afford 15 according to economies of scale. This isn’t even to mention that the Astutes cost £1.5bn each while the Aussies were prepared to spend 50/12=4.2bn usd per boat. So that means we should have actually had around 40… Read more »

DJ
DJ
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

RAN has 3 destroyers.

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Australia might have as many as 8.
The RN has 10.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Order, order!
8 26
6 45

5 31 – an escort?

So 14 by my reckoning.

Paul T
Paul T
2 years ago

Of all the options available to Australia this to me sounds very risky, much like the original choice for the Attack Class Boats. Surely the most obvious and cheapest solution would be to stick with the French Suffren Class (Nuclear) as is and get them into service much quicker.

OldSchool
OldSchool
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul T

Yes on face of it you would think so but I think Australian Govt has been far from impressed with the French builders (they were put on notice some time ago to up their game in relation to local content and forward work program and no doubt other issues/friction has occurred behind the scenes) so the client has walked. I also think that Australia would rather be wedded to US/UK nuclear reactor tech than France (who they don’t have a particularly in depth relationship with compared to US/UK).

Ron
Ron
2 years ago

Intresting developments down under. I bet the French and Chinese are going bonkers. Here is a thought, the Uk will in the next few years start the planning process for the Astute replacement. I suspect it will be based on the Dreadnought class. I just wonder if it makes sense to have a design that is suitable for the RN and RAN. that should cut down on development cost and build cost if we could combine some of the technology such as the reactor. It is my opinion that with the RAN joining the SSN club possibily the USN,RN and… Read more »

Harry Bulpit
Harry Bulpit
2 years ago

I’m happy to see us gaining closer relationships with our commonwealth partners however, given recent events I’m hesitant about gaining any closer defense ties with America and would be incredibly hesitant to work with them on the geopolitical stage. Unfortunately they have undoubtedly let us down and I think we need to make it clearer that this can not happen again in the future.

Steve
Steve
2 years ago

It’s going to be interesting to see how / if this turns out. With no native experience in building SSNs, the idea of taking bits from UK and bits from US seems to me to be less than optimal, as it will result in a completely new designed sub, which means first in series costs and issues. Australia seems to have a pretty solid defence procurement strategy but can they really afford to switch from a proven design offered by France to a entirely new one based on a hybrid of US and UK tech? Time will tell when actual… Read more »

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve

Calling the French design proven is a bit rich… it’s obviously ran into a lot of issues. In fact, it turned out just as dumb an idea as it sounded. Building electric subs from a nuclear design was never going to be as simple as just removing the reactor. Especially in Australia, where there is not very much experience with this sort of thing.

Steve
Steve
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

Fair point, ok more proven, plus they are already a few years into the relationship. This would be starting from scratch.

Hetzer38t
Hetzer38t
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve

A proven design though. The French boat was already problematic, over-budget and delayed.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Hetzer38t

“The French boat was already problematic, over-budget and delayed.” Most of that due to Australian choices and wanting more they can chew. What most of you don’t get is that Scorpène was to start a submarine building industry in Australia “Minchin, a South Australian, believes the decision was driven by politics and delayed the delivery of the submarines. He says the Abbott government’s decision to no longer subsidise the car industry was a significant factor in the Turnbull government deciding to build all 12 submarines in Adelaide. “That just increased the pressure on the federal Coalition government to come up… Read more »

Jack
Jack
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

There is already a submarine buiding industry in Australia, and has been for many years. ASC has already built the Collins class in Adelaide.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

The French design is proven with nuclear powerplant.

It is not proven with conventional power plant that Australia requested.

Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon
2 years ago

Possibly four, as with Collins.
Realistically, would just leave Canada to debate the merits, but viewed as part of North America in the whole, perhaps AIP is still the way for them complementarily – but six in that case?

eclipse
eclipse
2 years ago
Reply to  Gavin Gordon

They say at least eight. Yes more than the RN.

Dern
Dern
2 years ago
Reply to  eclipse

But no SSBNs…
So in effect 2 less than the RN.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago

Very interesting news. It certainly puts a boundary marker down for China. Also a landmark decision for Australia who in their vulnerability have chosen traditional allies and a quantum step up in naval technology. Slap in the face for France but I always thought putting a conventional power plant into a existing nuclear design sounded like the naval equivalent of Nimrod wings.
As soon as HMS Glasgow hits the water I look forward to the US cancelling the USN plan for the Aquitaine class in favour of T26 😂

John Hartley
John Hartley
2 years ago

I hope the Australians pick an existing USN or RN design. If they build a weird Australia only hybrid of US/UK designs, they risk build & cost problems.

Andrew D
Andrew D
2 years ago

Great that were helping Auss out, but please can we have some more SUBs MR Johnson.😊

Rob Richardson
Rob Richardson
2 years ago

Bet the French are well pleased, i thought the Aussies were buying French conventional subs.

Tommo
Tommo
2 years ago

Allo Allo France retaliates as they normally do by ensuring M and S have to Ckose 11 of its stores in France after losing Submarine contract to Anglo Allience I vill say this only vunce

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  Tommo

Russia just remembered France about their cancellation of Mistral class due to American and Western pressure…

You can be sure next time the French will answer very differently.

Plus, maybe some nice banking financing support would be there for French weapons that Argentinians want…

Tommo
Tommo
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

And everyone knows Putin has a long reach even though he denies it the next 2 operatives will probably just say that their visiting Paris as it has a tower taller than Salisbury Cathedral

Rfn_Weston
Rfn_Weston
2 years ago
Reply to  AlexS

France could lease Rafael’s fitted with Exocet to Argentina (which would never happen) and they’d still get shot out of the sky before getting anywhere near to the Falklands.

Mount Pleasant alone is a very different place than it was 40 years ago.

That’s before we even decide to try and reinforce it.

Argentina militarily are a complete non-entity and no amount of French financial support would change that to the point that the Falklands would be in contention.

JOHNT
JOHNT
2 years ago

Just done some reading up on the Attack class the costs for the entire program is(was) estimated to be A$89.7 billion that’s about $65 billion US. The estimated build costs for each boat was between A$1.4 and A$3 Billion about $1.0 and $2.20 billion US. Virginia’s build cost is $2.8 Billion without VPM, $3.4 Billion with. Astute is about $2.3 Billion currently.

AlexS
AlexS
2 years ago
Reply to  JOHNT

This would be higher, much higher.

Ian
Ian
2 years ago

This should of been a CANZUK deal, it’s about time the commonwealth stuck together on its own terms

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
2 years ago

Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines will not be allowed to enter New Zealand waters.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/naval-weapons/latest/wellington-to-ban-entry-of-australias-future-submarines-into-new-zealand-waters

Ron
Ron
2 years ago

I’ve been doing some thinking on what the RAN might need as an SSN, and what can the two partner countries bring to the table. So lets start with need, I do not think the RAN don’t want cruise missiles but a pure hunter killer with SBS ability. The area where they would operate is deep, very deep so it would need to be a deep diving sub. The range would need to be long, yes I know they are nucs so endurance which is food supply needs to be large, say for 90-110 days. Crewing would need to be… Read more »

John Hartley
John Hartley
2 years ago
Reply to  Ron

I suspect the Australians will replace their 6x SSK with 6x SSN. I doubt their budget will allow for more, unless they cut something else.

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  Ron

Just a few thoughts to add to your thinking on what the RAN might need. Astute is a pure hunter killer as you put it, with the ability to launch TLAM and SF troops. The US Virginia class is a SSGN with the ability to land SF, and has VL tubes for tLAM. SMs operate in a wide range of water depths, their deep diving depth isn’t governed by the depth of water where they are operating! SMs generally spend most of their lives operating at depths of less then 200m. There is little to be gained by going deeper,… Read more »

Deep32
Deep32
2 years ago
Reply to  Deep32

PS – US Virginia class are just as capable as an Astute class SSN.

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago

Headline on BBC News today _ ” US and UK face global backlash over Australia defence deal”.
In the article, China and France are mentioned, that’s it, nobody else.
The only surprise is that the BBC hasn’t accused the deal of being bad for climate change and gender equality.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

See other thread and comments on the BBC.

The usual.

Best ignored.

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago

The BBC is really beyond parody. I don’t mind them outwoking the Guardian. I do mind paying for it.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago

Daily Fail saying we have 13 frigates and 10 submarines, didn’t bother after that…

Ryan Brewis
Ryan Brewis
2 years ago

So if Australia chooses the Astute design but with a couple VPM tubes, what effect would that have on the cost of the RN’s boats and would it potentially allow for boats 8&9 if the cost came down enough or would the RN be better “evolving” the RAN Astute design to build them as their own Astute B2 so to speak?

MikeB1947
MikeB1947
2 years ago
Reply to  Ryan Brewis

Design contacts have just been signed with BAE and Rolls Royce for the Astute replacement.

dave12
dave12
2 years ago

What I will say is I used to be a remainder but seeing how the EU reacted , even trying to stop UK film ,drama influences , and letting the Russian gas line go through , I can only trust the anglo alliance at the moment ,because it seems to me the EU has lost the plot , I’m sure the Russians are loving the divide and we must be carful though not to give them the satisfaction.

Johan
Johan
2 years ago

OK The Federal Gov, was having a review of this program signed in 2016 $50 billion bid to build 12 extremely large submarines.  It is understood the study will look at the long-range conventional powered submarine that Swedish shipbuilder Saab Kockums has offered the Dutch navy. It can trace its lineage back to the original Collins submarines built for Australia. based on producing 3000 Australian jobs but the cost had risen to $90bn The government is reluctant to go to the extreme step of tearing up the contract with Naval Group because it would have effectively wasted $1.7 billion and… Read more »

Joe16
Joe16
2 years ago
Reply to  Johan

To be fair to the French, the Australians specified Diesel Electric powered boats, but wanted them SSN-sized pretty much- which is a huge challenge. The French were only trying to do what was being asked of them. I’m not saying that the French were innocent in everything, but I do think this was handled most poorly by the Australians. If they suddenly decided that they needed nukes to counter China, then they could easily have asked Naval Group to look at that- they make them and they do a good job. To not give any notice at all is really… Read more »

Steve D
Steve D
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe16

Agree. The Aussies love to point the finger at the French, but take no responsibility for the poor way they have managed this program. It was a matter of scope creep from day one, and the French simply could not keep pace with all the changes.

James
James
2 years ago

Highlight of this is seeing the French well and truly stuffed over what they thought must have been the rip off deal of the century, 90billion for 12 diesel subs mean my goodness the back handers from that in the industry would have been immense.

Other than cancelling the gala dinner in celebration of the alliance with the USA I just saw on the news that they have recalled ambassadors for the US and Australia as the request of Macron.

Well at least the free trade deal with Oz has already increased the economic relations by the 0.02% they quoted.

Last edited 2 years ago by James
The Stand Off Rocket Man
The Stand Off Rocket Man
2 years ago

I wonder how much, if at all, this will affect future French-British cooperation on defence projects, ie FC/ASW?

Joe16
Joe16
2 years ago

In the long run, I doubt it.
Their rhetoric has been pretty drastic, but I don’t think it will amount to much practically; They need us in Mali and the Sahel, and we work pretty closely alongside their navy too. As far as FC/ASW, I think that will go ahead; the French/Italian/UK MBDA interaction on comlex weapons (guided missiles) has been really quite a success story and is one of the areas where we can be competitive with the US. I don’t see them throwing that away because the top dogs don’t get along.

Peter S
Peter S
2 years ago

The experience with construction of the Collins class probably made the Australian government very cautious about the programme for their replacement. It seems that they have done nothing more than walk away as permitted under the terms of the contract. If the main reason for cancellation was a decision to go nuclear, it isn’t clear why the Barracuda couldn’t deliver that, especially as the fitting of diesel engines to a hull designed for nuclear propulsion is reported as a major cause of delay and cost rises. Was this even discussed with France? There are reports from Australian sources that the… Read more »

John Clark
John Clark
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

You have to wonder, What’ s the ‘the real’ reason for Mr Jenkins hateful article in the Guardian. This piece came in on my phone news feed and I found it an interesting read. It’s curious, totally inaccurate, claiming nuclear Submarines are totally obsolete (blimey glad he pointed this out before we waste any more on Dreadnought), so terribly, terribly bitter, so backwards looking in that particular little European protectionist way, that Liberals just seem to love. Yearning for a bit part EU past and so very keen to belittle and undermine the UK at every conceivable opportunity. So very… Read more »

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

“I’m starting to wonder if it’s Russian, or perhaps Chinese false news….!”

Wouldn’t be the first time that’s been possible at the Guardian.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/guardian-journalist-recruited-by-the-kgb-1386978.html

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter S

The US and UK could probably build an existing nuke boat in Australia by 2030, assuming its a fast and loose ‘get it done’ type contract.

Australia building a nuke boat in Australia before 2030 is probably impossible, even with US/UK assistance.

The Astute’s built today had long lead items ordered as early as 2012. That’s 10 years alone, and they aren’t done.

Ferguson Harper
Ferguson Harper
2 years ago

We need AUKUS 🇸🇧….our democracy need subs to operate within regional waters, because asian money laundry flooding in destabilize little Island nation political democracy….nuk subs or not, we need AUKUS presence in Democratic Monarchy Realm.