Australia faces long wait for new AUKUS nuclear subs

Andrew Tillett and Matthew Cranston

Updated Mar 13, 2023 – 5.52pm, first published at 5.30pm

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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.

Andrew Tillett writes on politics, foreign affairs, defence and security from the Canberra press gallery.

Matthew Cranston was The Australian Financial Review’s United States correspondent.