UK Awards $4bn Contract for AUKUS Nuclear Submarines

Image Credit: Goole

The United Kingdom has recently announced a substantial contract worth $4 billion to construct nuclear submarines as part of the AUKUS program.

It is the outcome of a joint effort with Australia and the United States. The UK Ministry of Defence has stated the significance of this contract with three prominent UK companies – BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Babcock.

About the Submarines

These submarines, known as SSN-AUKUS, are expected to be the most advanced and powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.

According to the UK defence ministry, the SSN-AUKUS submarines will feature cutting-edge technology, world-leading sensors, advanced design, and formidable weaponry, making them a formidable addition to the UK's naval capabilities.

The first SSN-AUKUS submarine is slated to enter service in the UK in the late 2030s, followed by the delivery of Australian submarines in the early 2040s.

About the AUKUS Program

The AUKUS program was unveiled by the leaders of Australia, the UK, and the US in March, marking an effort to counter China's influence in the Asia Pacific region. These nuclear-powered submarines represent a significant upgrade to Australia's existing diesel-powered fleet.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles previously described the AUKUS deal as “the biggest step forward in our military capability that we’ve had since the end of World War II”.

As part of the AUKUS program, the United States plans to supply Canberra with up to five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s. Furthermore, US and UK submarines are set to be deployed in Western Australia by 2027 to assist in training Australian crews.

Analysts believe that the AUKUS program will strengthen deterrence against China's assertive actions in the Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, where China has established military bases on disputed outcrops and reefs.

The advanced SSN-AUKUS Submarines

The advanced SSN-AUKUS submarines are highly stealthy and capable of operating in contested waters, tracking Chinese warships and submarines, controlling strategic sea lanes, chokepoints, and projecting power with long-range cruise missiles.

According to Ashley Townshend, a senior fellow for Indo-Pacific security at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank, “As highly stealthy platforms, SSNs’ ability to operate in contested waters, hunt Chinese warships and submarines, control strategic sea lanes and chokepoints, and project power with long-range cruise missiles make them one of the most effective ways to complicate Chinese military planning and give Beijing a reason to take pause before using force.”

This enhanced capability could complicate Chinese military planning and potentially deter aggressive actions.

The collaboration of US, UK, and Australian submarines as a combined force, with Australian personnel embedded on American and British subs, raises the prospect of horizontal escalation, potentially involving all three nations in the event of a military confrontation.

Chinese Response

It's important to note that China has expressed strong objections to the AUKUS program, considering it an illegal act of nuclear proliferation.

The Chinese foreign ministry has accused Australia, the UK, and the US of pursuing their own geopolitical interests at the expense of regional stability and peace, and they view the AUKUS pact as a reflection of a "Cold War mentality" that could lead to an arms race and damage international nuclear proliferation efforts.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)