Australia invests billions of dollars in naval infrastructure 0
(Dan Tri) – Australia will invest billions of dollars in a system of ports, shipyards and factories (both domestically and in the UK) to serve the construction and operation of nuclear submarines under the agreement framework.
British Defense Minister Grant Shapps (left) and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles discussed the Defense Treaty at Parliament in Canberra, Australia on March 21 (Photo: Reuters).
Along with the above announcement, Australia named British firm BAE Systems as the party supporting the construction of the country’s new submarines.
According to the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the UK and the US, Australia will buy up to 5 nuclear submarines from the US in the early 2030s. After that, Australia will join the UK in building and operating a new class of submarines called SSN-AUKUS.
The treaty will make Australia the seventh country to operate nuclear-powered submarines, but will also put pressure on shipyards in the UK and US, which are facing delays and delays.
To help ease tensions, Australia will provide Britain with 2.4 billion pounds ($3.1 billion) to design the SSN-AUKUS with conventional weapons and to expand Rolls-Royce – a specialized factory.
Previously, due to concerns that backlogged orders could affect the deal, Australia agreed to invest $3 billion in US shipyards, where Virginia-class nuclear submarines will be built to be sold to the US.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement on March 21: `AUKUS enables Australian industry to invest more here, while also opening up new opportunities for partners.`
Australia will also invest 1.5 billion Australian dollars ($993 million) to prepare a naval base in the west of the country for nuclear submarines.
The Foreign and Defense Ministers of Australia and the UK officially launched the above investments in a joint press conference held on March 22 at shipyards in South Australia – where Australia will build the AUKUS fleet.
In addition, Australia said British company BAE Systems has been selected to build submarines in South Australia in cooperation with local naval company ASC.
Once the submarines are in the water, ASC handles maintenance and logistics.
The SSN-AUKUS submarines will be built in the UK.
Because nuclear submarines require a highly specialized workforce, BAE and ASC will work together to establish a joint skills center in South Australia to conduct worker training.
It is expected that next year, Australia will send about 100 ASC personnel to Pearl Harbor (Hawaii, USA) to participate in training at the US naval facility.
To Uyen
According to Reuters
