San Diego/Washington DC | Australia is unlikely to get its first home-grown nuclear-powered submarine under the AUKUS alliance until at least 2040, as the government prepares an immediate billion-dollar injection into US and UK shipyards to begin the task of training Australian workers.
The long wait for the nation’s first “AUKUS-class” boat increases the likelihood that Australia may need to go beyond the minimum three US-made submarines it will receive initially to form the basis of the nuclear fleet as a hedge against delays.
Matthew Cranston is the United States correspondent, based in Washington. He was previously the Economics correspondent and Property editor. Connect with Matthew on Twitter. Email Matthew at mcranston@afr.com
