Minister for Defence Industry Fires A Shot Across The Bow of AUKUS Critics

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy at a press conference this morning has announced more investments in the AUKUS program, particularly AUKUS Pillar 1 to acquire a nuclear-powered but conventionally armed nuclear submarine and emphasised AUKUS is real and is happening

The Minister announced today Australia has invested $310 million in long lead items for the reactors for the first two SSN-AUKUS boats, these being the very first parts that will go into the reactors for the first two submarines that will be constructed in Adelaide beginning later in the 2020s.

The Minister said the project will create 20,000 high-skilled, secure jobs making the most advanced submarines in the world, equipping the Royal Australian Navy with the capabilities it needs to deter conflict in our region.

The Minister said he is now due to travel to the UK to inspect work on the reactors at Rolls-Royce, Derby, England, where work is being done in expanding supply chains and the industrial base to supply Australia with the reactors it requires.

Rolls-Royce Derby. Source Rolls-Royce

Then the Minister will be travelling to the BAE shipyard in Barrow, England to have conversations with both BAE and the UK Submarine Delivery Agency on progress on the design of SSN-AUKUS and to understand the build strategy and the ramping up of their work.

BAE Shipyard Barrow. Source BAE

So, in summary, the Minister explained, ‘good work is happening. The defence relationship between Australia and the United Kingdom is going from strength to strength’.

As to whether the reactors are already under construction, the Minister said the purchases he announced today have occurred over two years and they are for the very first parts to go into the required reactors. ‘So, this is the start of the construction process for these reactors’.

As to whether Australia was behind, in front or on track on the AUKUS project, the Minister said –

We’re on track. We’re hitting all major milestones for the AUKUS project. One critical milestone was the arrival of HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling yesterday, Sunday, Australian time. This was the first time we’ll see a submarine maintenance period occur for a UK Astute class submarine. And this is all about getting us sovereign ready for first SRF-West in 2027 and then to look after our own Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s.

From as early as 2027, it is proposed that the AUKUS partners will have a rotational presence at HMAS Stirling of one UK and up to 4 US, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. This rotational presence of UK and US nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling will be known as Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-West).

Arrival of HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling Sunday. Credit Royal Australian Mavy

The Minister added –

This has been complemented by the significant investment we’ve announced in Henderson and the $30 billion investment in the Osborne construction yard that Prime Minister Albanese, the South Australian Premier and I announced, I think a week ago. That announcement and that $30 billion investment will build the only submarine yard in the southern hemisphere capable of constructing a nuclear-powered submarine and will create 20,000 jobs across the nation. So, we are on track. This is a challenging project. This is a project that is the greatest industrial undertaking Australia has ever attempted. But it will also be nation-shaping in terms of modernising our manufacturing sector.

As to whether the Minister’s announcement today was intended to send a message to AUKUS critics of the project that this thing is starting to be real, the Minister pointed out that-

Oh, it’s very real. Like if you think about any of the key milestones or practical manifestations of this project. Work has begun constructing the shipyard in Osborne. Huge amounts of work has been done at HMAS Stirling to get that ready for SRF-West. We’ve ordered, and the first parts, long lead items for the reactors are beginning to flow through the system. We’ve awarded contracts to Australian companies to supply parts or to tender for parts for both US and UK submarines. Pacific Maritime Batteries has won work providing batteries not just for UK submarines but will provide batteries for the AUKUS boats out of Port Adelaide.

The Minister finally fired a shot across the bow of AUKUS critics saying –

So, the critics of AUKUS confound me because often they operate in a fact-free environment. We’re hitting every milestone and the practical manifestation of the cooperation is occurring every day.

By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News.

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