UK to design nuclear subs for Australia
Prime Minister will unveil Aukus deal at US summit on Monday in huge boost for defence industry
Britain will design Australia’s first generation of nuclear-powered submarines, Rishi Sunak is to announce on a trip to the US to seal the deal. The Prime Minister will unveil the Aukus agreement at a three-way summit in San Diego alongside Joe Biden, the US president, and Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister. It will come as a huge boost to the defence industry, much of which is based in the Red Wall seats the Tories need to hold to win the next election.
‘Rishi was buzzing and bouncing on the balls of his feet as he told colleagues that UK had won the race’
BRITAIN will design Australia’s first generation of nuclear-powered submarines, Rishi Sunak is set to announce on a trip to the US to seal the deal.
The Prime Minister will unveil the historic Aukus agreement at a threeway summit in San Diego alongside Joe Biden, the US president, and Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister.
It will be a huge boost to the defence industry, much of which is based in the Red Wall seats the Tories need to hold to win the next election.
Senior Conservatives hailed the news as a big win for Britain and said it was testament to the “world-class expertise” of the country’s naval sector. Under the agreement, set to be unveiled on Monday, the UK will provide Australia with plans for a modified version of its next generation submarines.
Known in the development stage as the Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement (SSNR), it will succeed the current Astute class hunter-killer vessel.
Australia had to choose between a British or US design for its new nuclearpowered fleet, which is being supplied under the Aukus agreement.
Aukus is the name of the security pact between the UK, USA and Australia, announced in September 2021 to help Australia acquire nuclearpowered submarines.
Mr Sunak was “buzzing” and “bouncing on the balls of his feet” as he told colleagues that Britain had won the race, one minister said.
Canberra’s decision will help support tens of thousands of jobs in the defence industry and could potentially create thousands of new posts.
Even though the new submarines will be built in Adelaide, the fact they are to be based on a UK design will mean British firms are heavily involved.
Meanwhile, the US will provide much of the cutting-edge technology for the new fleet.
Australia is replacing its Collins-class diesel-electric powered submarines in response to the growing regional threat posed by the Chinese navy.
Nuclear vessels can travel for much longer distances without surfacing, which will be crucial to countering Beijing in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Dr Liam Fox, a former defence secretary, told The Daily Telegraph that Australia’s decision to opt for the SSNR was a major boost for the UK.
He said: “It is a great testament to British innovation, technical expertise and engineering excellence that we have been given this central role in the defence of one of our staunchest allies.”
Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons defence committee, said the decision was “really welcome news” and further evidence of the UK’S “very strong bond” with Australia.
He said: “For British industry, particularly in the North of Britain, it will guarantee jobs for decades to come and exhibits the prowess of British sub-surface capability.
“I hope this will see a greater alliance not just on military cooperation but also on strategic thinking as to how we handle an ever assertive China, which is increasingly flexing its muscles and choosing to ignore the norms of the global order.”
Mark Francois, a former armed forces minister, added: “As someone who has visited Bae’s submarine yard at Barrow in Cumbria several times, I can certainly attest to their world-class expertise in submarine building.”
The submarines are still in the early design stage and will not be available for many years, meaning Australia will also buy from the US.
It will purchase up to five Virginiaclass attack vessels for the shorter term. Canberra expects to take delivery in the 2030s.
American nuclear-powered attack submarines will also start rotating through Perth from 2027 to provide a presence in the meantime.
Mr Sunak will fly out to San Diego on Sunday for a summit with Mr Biden and Mr Albanese 18 months on from the signing of the Aukus pact.
The trio are expected to discuss other defence matters including support for Ukraine.