The AUKUS nuclear submarine deal is expected to transform Australia into a naval power.
Australia says the AUKUS security deal that will see Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines will support about 20,000 jobs over the next 30 years. However, the deal will cost Australia up to $368 billion and expand US shipbuilding capacity.
The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal was conceived by former PM Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton and brought to fruition by current PM Anthony Albanese in partnership with US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
It is difficult to say whether the deal will be good for Australia or not. However, the deal is expected to create jobs and transform Australia into a naval power.
Why does Australia want to be a Naval power?
Australia wants to be a naval power to counter China’s growing naval reach1. For Australia, nuclear-powered submarines offer a powerful means to counter China’s growing naval reach and an escape hatch from a faltering agreement with a French firm to build diesel submarines1. The ability to stay underwater for longer is one reason Australia has switched to the nuclear-powered alternative2. The subs can go quiet once they are submerged and switched to electric power, but this requires batteries to be charged and limits the total time spent underwater2.
What happened to Australia’s deal for French submarines?
Australia will pay French shipbuilder Naval Group $835 million in compensation, after last year’s decision to tear up a $90-billion contract to build 12 submarines1. The total amount spent on the submarines program is now $3.4 billion1.
What is the current state of Australia’s navy?
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The RAN consists of nearly 50 commissioned vessels and over 16,000 personnel. The RAN is one of the largest and most sophisticated naval forces in the Pacific region.
So what is AUKUS?
AUKUS is a new three-way strategic defence alliance between Australia, the UK and US, initially to build a class of nuclear-propelled submarines, but also to work together in the Indo-Pacific region, where the rise of China is seen as an increasing threat, and develop wider technologies1. The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway will deliver Australia a world-class capability that will see our nation become one of only 7 countries that operate nuclear-powered submarines2.
Who are the seven?
According to WorldAtlas, only six countries currently have nuclear-powered submarines: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and India1.
What is the difference between a nuclear-powered submarine and a conventional submarine?
A conventional submarine is powered by diesel engines and batteries, while a nuclear-powered submarine is powered by a nuclear reactor. Nuclear-powered submarines can stay submerged for longer periods of time and can travel faster than conventional submarines. They also do not need to surface as often as conventional submarines to recharge their batteries.
Is AUKUS all about China?
Yes, China has condemned the AUKUS agreement as “extremely irresponsible” and “seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race”1. China has made no secret of its plans to diplomatically thwart Australia’s AUKUS submarine plan, which it sees as part of a broader US effort to contain China’s future military dominance of Asia2.
Yes, China has condemned the AUKUS agreement as “extremely irresponsible” and “seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race”. China has made no secret of its plans to diplomatically thwart Australia’s AUKUS submarine plan, which it sees as part of a broader US effort to contain China’s future military dominance of Asia.
How do everyday Australians feel about the subs deal?