(Announcement from the PRIME MINISTER OFFICE on September 16, 2021.)
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| AUKUS-Nuclear powered & armed. |
The security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region
have grown significantly. Military modernisation is occurring at an unprecedented
rate and capabilities are rapidly advancing and their reach expanding. The
technological edge enjoyed by Australia and our partners is narrowing.
AUKUS will build on the three nations’ longstanding and ongoing bilateral ties, and will enable the partners to significantly deepen cooperation on a range of emerging security and defence capabilities, which will enhance joint capability and interoperability.
Initial efforts under AUKUS will focus on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities. This is an historic opportunity for the three nations, with like-minded allies and partners, to protect shared values and promote security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. AUKUS will complement
Australia’s network of strategic partnerships, including with our ASEAN
friends, our Pacific family, our Five Eyes partners, the Quad and other
like-minded partners.
First initiative under AUKUS
The first
initiative under AUKUS is for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarine
technology, leveraging decades of experience from the US and UK. Under AUKUS,
the three nations will focus immediately on identifying the optimal pathway to
deliver at least eight nuclear-powered submarines for Australia.
Over the next 18
months, Australia, the UK and US will intensely examine the full suite of
requirements that underpin nuclear stewardship and demonstrate a clear pathway
to becoming a responsible and reliable steward of this sensitive technology.
Australia will establish a Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce in the
Department of Defence to lead this work.
Nuclear-powered
submarines do not have the same limitations that face conventional submarines
on weapons storage, speed and endurance. They can stay completely submerged for
many months, limiting the opportunities for detection by adversaries.
As a three-ocean
nation, it is necessary for Australia to have access to the most capable
submarine technology available. As a nation, we are ready to take the step to
pursue the most advanced submarine technology available to defend Australia and
its national interests.
Australia has no
plans to acquire nuclear weapons and this proposal will remain consistent with
Australia’s longstanding commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. All three nations are deeply committed to
upholding leadership on global non-proliferation. The Government’s intention is
to build the nuclear-powered submarines in South Australia, maximising the use
of Australian workers.
Building the
submarines in Australia is the best way to develop a strong and effective
sustainment industry, which will enable us to meet every requirement to safely
operate and maintain nuclear-powered submarines.
Attack class submarine program
The pursuit of
nuclear-powered submarine technology means that Australia will no longer
proceed with the Attack class conventional submarine program with Naval Group.
The Government
would like to thank the Attack class submarine workforce, Naval Group, the
Government of France and Lockheed Martin Australia for their efforts to date.
However, accelerating changes to regional security make conventional submarines
unsuited to our operational needs in the decades ahead.
The Government
will actively work with industry to ensure the people and skills developed
under the existing program are not lost to the Government’s Naval Shipbuilding
Enterprise as we establish a new program to support the delivery of
nuclear-powered submarines to the Navy.
The existing
submarine workforce are prime candidates for the unprecedented work that needs
to be performed across the Enterprise over the coming decades, where we will
rely on their expertise more than ever.
The Government
will partner with our Australian-owned sovereign shipbuilder, ASC, to manage
and implement a new Sovereign Shipbuilding Talent Pool. The Government is
committed to finding a role within the Sovereign Shipbuilding Talent Pool for
each and every skilled shipbuilding worker impacted by this announcement.
The Sovereign
Shipbuilding Talent Pool will re-deploy the existing shipbuilding workforce
throughout current and new shipbuilding programs, while building the
nuclear-powered submarine skills that will be crucial for the success of the
nuclear-powered submarine program.
This decision
was not taken lightly. Our partnership with the Government of France and Naval
Group on the Attack class conventional submarine program would have resulted in
the most capable and lethal conventional submarine ever built.
As likeminded
liberal democracies, Australia and France share a common commitment to the
rules-based global order that has delivered stability and prosperity to the
Indo-Pacific. We look forward to continuing to work closely and positively with
our French counterparts. France is a key friend and partner to Australia and
the Indo-Pacific.
Other capabilities
The Government
will also acquire additional long-range strike capabilities for the Australian
Defence Force. Throughout the decade, Australia will rapidly acquire long-range
strike capabilities to enhance the ADF’s ability to deliver strike effects
across our air, land and maritime domains. These include:
Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, to be fielded on our
Hobart class destroyers, enabling our maritime assets to strike land targets at
greater distances, with better precision.
Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (Extended
Range) will enable our F/A-18 A/B Hornets and in future, our F-35A Lightning
II, to hit targets at a range of 900km.
Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (Extended Range)
(LRASM) for the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Continuing collaboration with the United States to
develop hypersonic missiles for our air capabilities.
Precision strike guided missiles for our land
forces, which are capable of destroying, neutralising and supressing diverse
targets from over 400km.
Accelerating $1
billion for a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing enterprise – which will
enable us to create our own weapons on Australian soil.
These
capabilities, coupled with the planned Life-of-Type Extension of Australia’s
Collins class submarine fleet, will enhance Australia’s ability to deter and
respond to potential security challenges.
The management
of this transition, and other capability acquisition options that will meet
Australia’s strategic requirements, will be at the forefront of consultations
through AUKUS over the next 18 months.
China's Naval Response To AUKUS
China immidiately sent a four-ship naval fleet to US territorial waters off Alaska. The fleet consists of a guided missile cruiser, a guided missile destroyer, and two supporting frigates. The fleet stays at 46 miles off the US coast under the constant watch from the Bertholf a US Coast Guard vessel.
