AUKUS nuclear powered submarines to be built in Australia

Nuclear-powered submarines are set to be built in Australia as the AUKUS alliance demands we pull our weight in military manufacturing.

Nuclear-powered submarines will be built locally, as Australia moves to shore up its defences ahead of any potential global conflict.

News Corp Australia has learned allies the United States and UK are counting on Australia to boost sovereign manufacturing capability, so they have more industrial bases to call upon.

High-level AUKUS security pact discussions, held this week in the UK, have concluded the likelihood of increased Allied use of our military bases, ports and air fields.

But critically it has been made clear Australia needed to rapidly increase its capability for maintenance and manufacture of their military hardware as well as our own.

The push for Australia to join their war kit production lines and global supply chain includes nuclear-powered submarines, at some point in the future.

Richard Marles tours BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, England with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace at commissioning of Astute class nuclear-powered submarine HMS Anson. Image: Twitter

The commissioning of submarine HMS Anson at BAE Systems at Barrow, Cumbira, England. Picture: Supplied/BAE

On his trip to the UK, Defence Minister Richard Marles agreed, with the commitment welcomed by defence contractors, notably in South Australia whose skilled work force was decimated after the cancelling of the French submarine build contract last year.

Mr Marles told News Corp the previous government was good at spruiking defence industry but never articulated the strategic rationale for why.

“It is critical, fundamentally defence industry plays a really important part in Australia being taken seriously in the world and when we are developing IP in the defence space in this country and working with other countries to provide capability, we are right there in the heart of their interests and that’s a huge impact on building Australia’s strategic (security),” he said.

After meeting with US and UK counterparts, Mr Marles said the 2040 date for Australia’s first nuclear-powered submarine had to be brought forward.

Astute class nuclear-powered submarine HMS Ambush during sea trials near Scotland in 2012. Picture: Supplied

“When we’re talking about the next generation of submarines, what’s really clear is that Australia is going to need to play its part in increasing the industrial base of the three countries,” he said.

“In other words we will need to develop the capacity to build a nuclear-powered submarine in Australia, we’re going to have to add to the combined industrial capacity of the three countries if we want to see a timely supply of the class of submarines in the future.”

He said Australia could also in future contribute to the supply chain of the UK and Canada for its new frigate, which were commensurate with Australia’s Hunter class warship currently being developed.

“We will see supply chains be more global, is really the point I’m making. But we definitely need to develop increased industrial capacity in Australia to add to the net capability of the three AUKUS countries.”

BAE Systems apprentices who will become full-time apprentices in 2022 at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, working with BAE Systems Maritime Australia on the Hunter Class frigate program. Picture: Supplied

Tim Stoddard, mechanical engineer and Queensland state manager for Headland Machinery which had a contract in the previous submarine project, said the cancellation of the French designed submarine set sovereign capability in Australia back at least five years.

He said even if the first AUKUS submarines had to be purchased overseas for expediency, it was essential manufacturing assembly and sustainment be here.

“My message on behalf of Australian manufacturing is to really support the Australia industry content contribute to any defence program in terms of enabling local businesses a chance to be part of the program for local jobs and economies … and strategic and security interests,” he said.

Originally published as AUKUS nuclear powered submarines to be built in Australia