Stars and Stripes – Australia and Papua New Guinea have completed first steps and begun major refurbishment of a navy base built by U.S. forces on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, during World War II.

Navy Lookout – The political and strategic ramifications of the AUKUS pact announced in September continue to reverberate but the details of how Australia will actually acquire nuclear-powered submarines have been rather overlooked. Here we focus on the daunting technical, industrial and financial challenges to be overcome on the long road to joining the SSN club.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute – Serious risks are being realised in the Royal Australian Navy’s twin transitions in its surface combatant and submarine fleets. As Australia’s strategic circumstances become more dangerous, Defence needs to adopt hedging measures to actively address the capability risks in its acquisition plans.

(Thanks to Alain)

Breaking Defense – When the United States, United Kingdom and Australia announced their new AUKUS agreement, the major focus was on the path for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines for the first time. But that headline aside, there is much more to the agreement, which could represent a major shift  in Indo-Pacific strategic and military relations for the three nations.

War on the Rocks – Because AUKUS focuses on technology sharing, it is different than a traditional arms sale, and this difference has two key implications. First, the deal is a stronger signal of the participants’ long-term concern about China’s rise. Second, and conversely, it will be more difficult to implement the deal in a way that lives up to its claims.

Naval News – As Australia looks set to join the elite club of nuclear submarine operators, we explore the options. The U.S. Navy’s Virginia Class? The Royal Navy’s Astute Class? Or something new? We have identified the 5 most obvious candidates.

Naval News – Hints are emerging as to what the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) might be planning for their Collins Class submarines. They are often regarded as among the best long-range non-nuclear submarines in the World. But they require upgrades to keep them up there until 2048 when nuclear boats are expected to take over.

RUSI – The hardest part of the AUKUS deal could be keeping Australia happy – as France has found out.

USNI News – The effort to build Australia’s fleet of nuclear attack submarines could take decades to both design the boats and create the shipbuilding capacity and adequate oversight to support the effort, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said on Thursday.

France 24 – As France rages over last week’s Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) defence deal that saw Canberra ditch multibillion dollar submarine contracts, analysts suggest Paris should not have been so shocked – considering Australia’s desire for nuclear submarine technology rooted in its fear of a Chinese threat, alongside a broader Anglophone perception that France’s China policy is too ambiguous.

1945 – James Holmes writes that nuclear-powered boats make perfect sense for Australia.

Breaking Defense – The trilateral defense pact laid out by President Joe Biden and counterparts Wednesday will present serious workforce challenges for Australia, a precedent-setting discussion of non-proliferation policy and could take two decades before coming to fruition.

USNI News – Australia’s surprise move to procure nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) with U.S. and U.K. follows difficulties the country has experienced on its SEA 1000 Attack-class future submarine program and the realization that a conventionally powered submarine (SSK) will not meet its future needs.

BBC – The UK, US and Australia have announced a special security pact to share advanced technologies including nuclear-powered submarine know-how.

Naval News – French president and Australian prime minister confirmed the strategic partnership the two nations share, and the importance of the Attack Class Submarine.

War Zone – The costly refurbishment comes as the government confirms its new submarines won’t be fully combat-ready until 2054.

News.com.au – The idea sounds grand – charging forth, flags flying, to save a bullied island friend. But China’s been preparing for this for decades.

Naval News – Australia’s Future Submarine Program has reached a major milestone with the conclusion of negotiations between the Department of Defence and Naval Group for the amendments to the Strategic Partnering Agreement.

Independent Australia – The submarine deal France proudly called ‘the contract of the Century’ appears to have collapsed

Defense News – Australia’s defense minister announced initiatives Monday that will fund early development work on a range of advanced guided weapons and new mine countermeasures/hydrographic ships for the Royal Australian Navy.

War Zone – Australia’s plans to introduce 12 advanced new Attack class submarines may have hit a new snag. The huge cost of the French-designed conventional submarines, which will likely feature air-independent propulsionand other advanced technologies, means that officials may be examining whether they might instead replace the Royal Australian Navy’s six existing Collins class boats with an updated version of this same design. 

Naval News – After her arrival in the Netherlands at the end of August, Australia’s icebreaker RSV Nuyina is commencing her seatrials in the North Sea.

ABC – Australia’s only submarine rescue vehicle was damaged last week during a collision with a Navy ship during annual exercises.

(Thanks to Alain)

ABC – A three-decades-long Australian naval presence in the Middle East will come to an abrupt end this year as the Federal Government grapples with an increasingly uncertain strategic environment closer to home.

USNI News – Australia will join the India-led Malabar 2020 naval exercise next month, operating along with the U.S. and Japan in an exercise meant to send a message to China. The exercise will be a first for the so-called “Quad,” the Pacific cooperation between Japan, India, Australia and the U.S.