Australia is set to achieve a formidable strategic milestone by acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, a move poised to bolster its defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
The AUKUS pact, although not a mutual defense alliance, serves as a technology capability pact that primarily supports Australia with the world’s most advanced submarine technologies.
The strategic justification for this capability stems from an increasingly assertive geopolitical landscape, where countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea are challenging the rules-based global order.
Australia’s geopolitical position and reliance on maritime trade in the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions are rising, underscore the need for a robust defense strategy.
This need is underpinned by the United Nations Charter and UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, both of which are eroding barriers against conflict, thereby increasing risks to Australia’s interests.
The decision to opt for nuclear-powered submarines over conventional ones is rooted in the strategic advantages they offer.
With greater speed, endurance, and stealth, nuclear-powered submarines are less likely to be detected and can remain submerged longer, significantly altering an adversary’s calculus in maritime conflict.
The AUKUS agreement itself serves as a deterrent, with its announcement crafted to send a clear message that the US and the UK are willing to transfer sensitive technology to Australia, a commitment they shied away from in the 1960s.
The strategic significance of the pact rests on three principles: capability, credibility, and communication.
Despite its potential, the AUKUS plan is not without its challenges. It comes with significant financial costs, workforce demands, and heavy reliance on the US and the UK for design and construction of the submarines.
Australia will have to manage its nuclear waste responsibly and satisfy non-proliferation standards. Furthermore, the program faces technical hurdles, such as the potential transparency of the oceans due to technological advancements that could compromise submarine stealth by the 2050s.
Nevertheless, the AUKUS partnership is moving forward with a phased approach. This includes embedding Australian personnel with the US Navy and UK Royal Navy, increasing port visits, establishing a rotational submarine presence, and the eventual acquisition of Virginia-class submarines from the US.
The plan also includes the development of the SSN-AUKUS, a cutting-edge submarine amalgamating UK design and US technology, with construction anticipated to start before the decade’s end.
The trilateral partnership will strengthen the submarine industrial bases in all three countries, creating jobs, enhancing infrastructure, and boosting industrial capacities.
These benefits extend to Australia’s planned expansion of the HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, and the construction of the SSN-AUKUS submarines in South Australia, which is set to employ thousands and nearly double the demand for personnel in Australia’s submarine shipyard.
Relevant articles:
– The facts about Australia’s nuclear submarine program, The Strategist | ASPI’s analysis and commentary site
– Here are the facts about Australia’s nuclear submarine program, AFR
– Aukus: 10 things we need to know about Australia’s nuclear submarine program, The Guardian
– FACT SHEET: Trilateral Australia-UK-US Partnership on Nuclear-Powered Submarines, The White House (.gov)