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| 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)
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