Subs standard: Britain signals AUKUS design ties

Britain’s top diplomat in Canberra says Australia’s soon-to-be revealed AUKUS submarine design will be interoperable with those of both the UK and US.

British high commissioner Vicki Treadell at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Britain’s top diplomat in Canberra says Australia’s soon-to-be revealed AUKUS submarine design will be interoperable with those of both the UK and US, suggesting the British may have agreed to adopt an American combat system, or the chosen design might be common to all three countries.

Amid swirling speculation over Australia’s potential submarine design, it remains unclear how the AUKUS allies will deliver what is promised to be a “genuine trilateral partnership”.

But ahead of an announcement in the US next week by Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, UK high commissioner Vicki Treadell suggested the submarines of all three nations would share common elements.

“In any partnership, it is about how we work together, how we deliver together – so there will be an interoperability in the way we move forward together,” she told the National Press Club.

Ms Treadell also hit back at Peter Dutton, who said last week it would be a mistake for Australia to choose a British submarine over an American one.

“I told (the Opposition Leader) myself last night that I didn’t agree with his view … because he’s commenting on an outcome that he doesn’t yet know,” the High Commissioner said.

Britain has until now used British-designed combat systems and weapons in its submarines, whereas Australia’s Collins-class boats are fitted with US-made systems.

It’s understood that before the May election, the Morrison government had been working towards a submarine design that would be shared by all the nations.

But US submarines are much larger than British or Australian boats, fuelling speculation Australia may choose the next-generation British sub, dubbed SSN(R).

It would be far less complicated for Australia to accept a British submarine design if it incorporated a US combat system, rather than having to retrofit one.

The Prime Minister is expected to stand alongside Mr Biden and Mr Sunak on Monday at the massive Coronado Naval Base near San Diego, in California, to unveil the chosen sub design and detail how Australia will acquire and operate the nuclear-propelled boats.

Mr Albanese confirmed before flying out for India on Wednesday that he would visit the US next week. But he maintained the trip was for a “bilateral meeting with President Biden”, and declined to comment on Mr Sunak’s attendance. “I look forward to the continuing engagement that I have with the US administration,” he said. “We’ll have further announcements about details soon.”

Mr Dutton last week warned a new British submarine design would likely be plagued with problems, while the US Virginia-class sub was a “proven design” that could be delivered faster.

He said he had been advised as defence minister that choosing a British boat would delay Australia’s acquisition of nuclear submarines, and that key elements of the UK supply chain had no capacity to support an Australian build.

Ms Treadell said: “There’s a lot of speculation. I was simply pointing out that I did not think such expressions were helpful on what is a genuine tri­lateral partnership started under his government.”

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Malcolm Davis said it was unclear what level of interoperability Ms Treadell was hinting at, but it would be “logical” for all three countries to choose a common combat system.

Additional reporting: Joe Kelly