Defense News – It will take two decades for Australia to operate the nuclear-powered submarines designed and built under a new arrangement with the United States and the United Kingdom, unveiled six months ago. Even so, a flurry of activity meant to get the undertaking off the ground has already begun, and experts say it’s critical to the program’s long-term timeline that the three countries meet these initial goals.

Defense News – As the two-year anniversary of AUKUS approaches, the export control debate and a separate tussle over the health of the submarine-industrial base have raised questions about how and when Congress will pass several authorizations needed to make the program into the transformational initiative leaders promised.

USNI News – HMAS Canberra (L02) launched several MV-22B Ospreys in an air assault exercise off Palawan this week, commencing the first phase of the first-ever bilateral amphibious drill between the Philippines and Australia.

ASPI – To meet the Australian defence strategic review’s requirement for an enhanced-lethality surface fleet, minimally armed offshore patrol vessels and patrol boats won’t cut it. Instead, Defence should consider replacing the OPV build with a fleet of much more capable combatants, and a corvette or light frigate option should be seriously looked at.

Navy Lookout – Since the formal announcement in March that Australia would partner with the RN to design and build a new class of SSNs, further details have emerged about how the AUKUS submarine programme will be structured.

War Zone – The first group of Australian submariners to attend the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power School is set to graduate next week. 

War Zone – New details about Australia’s plan to transition to an all nuclear submarine fleet have emerged during intense questioning in Canberra.

USNI News – The Royal Australian Navy faces the greatest challenge of the Australian Defense Force as it pursues a nuclear-powered submarine fleet, according to the nation’s latest defense blueprint.

Naval News – Australia received in principle approval to procure an expeditionary version of the US Navy’s Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System.

The Australian – The Ghost Shark uncrewed submarine won’t replace anything in current Navy service because nothing has existed until now that can do its job.

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – The leaders of Australia, Britain and the US met today at a summit in San Diego to discuss the AUKUS pact. The centrepiece of the agreement is the deal to supply nuclear-powered submarines to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Here we examine the implications of the announcements and look at the future Anglo-Australian SSN(R) submarine project.

USNI News – The Royal Australian Air Force will reactivate a squadron for the three MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicles it will start operating in 2024.

Defence Connect – Reports are emerging from the United Kingdom that the Sunak government has “agreed in principle” to sell the Royal Australian Navy a fleet of British-designed and potentially, partially-built fleet of nuclear powered submarines as part of the trilateral AUKUS agreement. 

(Thanks to Alain)

Breaking Defense – With the formal announcement of Australia’s path to obtain nuclear attack submarines expected to happen in Washington next month, speculation about the likely solution AUKUS is beginning to leak out.

Breaking Defense – A letter from key US lawmakers has raised concerns about the AUKUS plan down under.

Naval News – Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR) is set to be publicly released in March next year. Here are a few hints on how it could impact the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)…

War Zone – The Ghost Shark unmanned underwater vehicle will eventually be the size of a school bus and offer both surveillance and attack capabilities.

The Strategist – AUKUS is a technology accelerator agreement for the purpose of national defence, no more, no less. It is designed to allow three countries to work closely together to translate the promise of today’s maturing technologies, such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence, into tomorrow’s military edge.

ABC – Australian submariners will train onboard British nuclear-powered submarines for the first time in the latest announcement under the AUKUS security pact.

Breaking Defense – At a large dinner here attended by its ambassador and a host of senior acquisition officials, South Korea made clear its eagerness to deepen defense ties with Australia, making the bold offer of building advanced conventional attack submarines in “seven years from signature to delivery.”

(Thanks to Alain)

The Interpreter – The Australian Labor Party faces a dilemma over nuclear-powered subs and the non-proliferation regime. An old partner might offer an answer.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – In controversial statements, Peter Dutton says that plans existed to buy two of the U.S.-made submarines by 2030.

USNI News – The Royal Australian Navy will establish a new submarine base on its east coast to host its planned nuclear-powered submarines and to complement the existing Fleet Base West, Garden Island submarine base, Australian officials said on Monday. The government is considering three possible locations for the new base – Brisbane, Newcastle and Port Kembla – down from 19 initial candidates.

CNN – Australia is demanding China investigate the alleged use of a laser to “illuminate” an Australian jet in waters off the country’s north coast in an incident that threatens to worsen relations between the two countries.

The Strategist – The political and strategic ramifications of the AUKUS pact involving the US, UK and Australia continue to reverberate, but the details of how Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) have often been overlooked. There are daunting technical, industrial and financial challenges on the long road to joining that club.