US Submarine Supply Constraints Could Potentially Impact AUKUS
AUKUS aims to increase security in the Indo-Pacific region, but the supply of submarines is at risk due to cuts in the US defence budget.
Despite concerns about the potential impact of scaling down production, Australian defence officials remain unfazed by the reduction in the supply of US-built Virginia-class submarines by the Biden administration.
Under the terms of the AUKUS Defence Pact, Australia’s diesel submarine fleet will be upgraded with the US selling up to five second-hand submarines by the early 2030s.
Initiated in 2021, AUKUS is a trilateral security arrangement focused on bolstering security and intelligence gathering in response to the increasing Chinese military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
However, the supply of submarines faces threats after the United States decided to cut a Virginia-class submarine from its proposed 2025 defence budget, opting to order just one new fast-attack nuclear submarine instead of the originally planned two, saving $4 billion but disrupting Canberra’s acquisition plans.
The delays caused by COVID-19 have stalled submarine production by up to 30 months, with 12 vessels still awaiting completion, as revealed by U.S. Defence Under Secretary Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer, Michael McCord.
Despite these challenges, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles reiterated the commitment of Australia and its allies to the AUKUS pact, emphasizing the importance of integrating industrial bases and realizing the shared initiative among the partner countries.
On the other hand, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull expressed skepticism about the delivery of the submarine order due to the proposed budget cuts and believed that the United States would prioritize its own navy over fulfilling promises to Australia and AUKUS partners.
