Written by staff writer.
Ahead of the highly anticipated AUKUS announcement early this week, the Department of Defence has settled on Port Kembla, south of Sydney, as the preferred future base for the AUKUS class submarines, while the US co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group told the ABC that the Australian shipbuilding industry was about to commence work on one of the most complex manufacturing processes around.
Credible reports suggest that there are three stages to the AUKUS deal. In the first stage, up to four Virginia class submarines would be pre-deployed to Australia from 2027 and temporarily based at HMAS Stirling outside Perth. The United Kingdom may also pre-deploy an Astute class submarine to Perth.
The second stage will see Australia acquire US-made Virginia class submarines early next decade and finally secure the new so-called AUKUS fleet in the 2040s. Reportedly, those AUKUS vessels will use a UK-designed platform and integrate US Lockheed Martin-made weapons system.
Democratic Congressman and co-chair of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group, Joe Courtney, told ABC TV on March 12 that he is confident the US can supply the Virginia class submarines next decade. “This is not a zero-sum game. Historically, the submarine industrial base in the US, which is over 100 years old, has grown and contracted with external events and the security environment. Right now, we realise we will have to do some more outsourcing, and Australia will be part of that.”
Initially, Adelaide-based shipbuilders will concentrate on supplying parts for the Virginia-class submarines to help ease supply chain bottlenecks in the US. It will also skill up an Australian workforce for when it comes time to start work on the AUKUS class submarines. Courtney says this will be done “incrementally” to get local shipbuilders acquainted with the systems and technologies. “This is not something you can just flip a switch on,” he said. “You are taking on one of the most complex manufacturing processes you can imagine. You’re building a vessel that is operating in an environment that does not support human life. I mean, everything has to be perfect.”
Courtney wouldn’t say if Australia would get new or existing Virginia class submarines next decade but said, either way, they would be of the highest quality. “No one’s going to be foisting off clunkers on good friends and allies,” he said.
Courtney said that AUKUS enjoyed strong bipartisan support in the US and wouldn’t be undermined by any future White House administration. He says China’s growing missile capabilities are driving US support for AUKUS. “We saw in Ukraine two relatively crude short-range missiles take down the flagship of the Russian Navy. The ocean surface is a much riskier place (than undersea). Unfortunately, the diesel-electric, which was the prior plan, has to exist and operate on the surface… this is about having the type of stealth and the type of reach which the strategic environment requires.”
Meanwhile, the Congressman also moved to alleviate concerns about the US putting their navy in control of Australia’s future AUKUS class submarines. Courtney said it was not going to happen. “The notion that there will be joint crewing is really over-hyped. The title will be handed to the Government of Australia with the full understanding that the vessels will be under Australian control.”
The US President, UK, and Australian Prime Ministers will announce details of the AUKUS deal in San Diego on March 13 (US time).
