The three countries have signed a partnership to produce nuclear propulsion submarines. A gigantic plan, over decades, which aims to be the realization of the agreement announced in September 2021.
by Piotr Smolar (Washington, correspondent)
An immense industrial effort, an unprecedented partnership and a common concern: China. Eighteen months after the constitution of the Aukus alliance between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, the leaders of the three countries met on Monday, March 13, on the naval base of Point Loma, in San DIEGO (California). US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, have revealed the stages of a nuclear propulsion and conventional armament development plan, which will bind their countries at a very long time term. “A historic day,” said the first.
The three countries will in particular associate to make a new generation of attack submersibles, called SSN-AUKUS. From this year, for training purposes, Australian staff will be embarked on American and British submarines, which will also do more rotations in Australia.
From the early 2030s, as soon as the US Congress has given its approval, the United States intends to give in to Australia three used Virginia class submarines, “with the possibility of selling more two if necessary, “said the common press release. A formidable first industrial challenge. Washington will invest $ 2.4 billion (around 2.2 billion euros) in its dedicated industrial sites and 2.2 billion in the maintenance of submersibles Virginia, between 2023 and 2027.
In just a step, Canberra will receive new submarines, the SSN-AUKUS, based on a British design but with American technologies on board. To date, Washington has only shared this equipment with London.
At the end of the 2030s, the United Kingdom will have to deliver a first, from its manufacture, to Canberra. It was not until the early 2040s in twenty years that Australia has the first submarine entirely built on its soil. “Our plan increases the industrial capacities of the three nations to produce and maintain interoperable nuclear propulsion submarines for the decades to come, extends our individual and collective underwater presence in Indo-Pacific, and contributes to security and to global stability, “said the press release.
three” maritime democracies “against China
The ambitions are impressive, but their realization will claim decades, arousing strong questions about the industrial, military and financial capacities of the three countries to take up the challenge. The absence of common costing in the official press release and distribution of commitments between each capital reinforces this questioning.
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