NUCLEAR SUBMARINES – AUSTRALIA

AUKUS subs construction delayed by years: US navy

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: Online : 4-Apr-24

The federal government’s deal to acquire US nuclear-powered submarines via the AUKUS alliance is under renewed scrutiny following revelations that the construction of Virginia-class vessels is 2-3 years behind schedule. An internal investigation by the US Navy has found that work on building every class of vessel is behind schedule at present, while deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell notes that the submarines program is continuing to be affected by supply-chain disruptions arising from the pandemic. Campbell has also downplayed concerns about the future of the AUKUS alliance if Donald Trump wins the presidential election.

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UNITED STATES NAVY

Trump to back vital AUKUS, says Bannon

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 2 : 7-Feb-24

Steve Bannon headed the 2016 election campaign of former US president Donald Trump, and subsequently served as the White House’s chief strategist. Bannon says Trump regards Australia as a vital ally of the US, and he is likely to support the AUKUS deal to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia if he wins the 2024 election. Nikki Haley, the other remaining contender for the Republican nomination, also intends to support AUKUS and the transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia if she becomes president.

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REPUBLICAN PARTY (UNITED STATES)

Australia to streamline information sharing with US to seal subs deal

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Original article by Farrah Tomazin
The Age – Page: Online : 25-Oct-23

The federal government will legislate changes to the nation’s export control laws as part of its deal to acquire nuclear-powered submarines via the AUKUS alliance. The proposed reforms will make it easier for Australia to share sensitive information and technology with its partners in the alliance; it is also hoped that they will help ease the concerns of some US Congress members about providing Australia with classified information regarding the US nuclear program. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says US politicians from all sides understand the value of AUKUS and want "to get it right".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

$368b unremarkable, says Marles

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 15-Mar-23

The federal government has disclosed that the deal to acquire nuclear-power submarines will cost $9bn over the next four years and up to $58bn over the next decade. However, this will be offset by savings elsewhere in the defence budget. The nuclear submarines program is slated to cost between $268bn and $368bn over the next 30 years, which Defence Minister Richard Marles has described as an "unremarkable amount" for any major government policy over three decades. In contrast, the National Disability Insurance Scheme is expected to cost some $2trn over the same period.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

Russia, China bristle at Cold War pact

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Original article by Will Glasgow
The Australian – Page: 5 : 15-Mar-23

The Taiwanese government has welcomed Australia’s deal to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, stating that it will help redress the "military imbalance" across the Taiwan Strait. However, the deal has been criticised by Chinese and Russian officials. China’s Foreign Ministry has described the AUKUS alliance as "typical Cold War mentality" that will undermine the international nuclear non-proliferation system. Russia in turn has warned that the alliance will ensure "years of confrontation" in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, Professor Chen Hong of the East China Normal University says Australia has officially put itself on the People’s Liberation Army’s "defence radar".

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Government prepares to unveil AUKUS plan

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Original article by Matthew Knott
The Age – Page: Online : 25-Jan-23

The federal government is expected to shortly announce which nuclear-powered submarine design it would opt for under the AUKUS alliance. Defence Minister Richard Marles will receive the recommendations of the submarine taskforce in coming weeks, as well as the final version of a strategic review of the nation’s defence forces. Marles says he is prepared to make difficult decisions regarding defence spending in response to the strategic review. However, he stresses that the government will ensure that the nation avoids a ‘capability gap’ between the retirement of the Collins-class submarines and the delivery of their nuclear-powered replacements.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

US ‘won’t share nuclear subs’: expert

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 2 : 6-Oct-21

Former US submariner and navy commander Bryan Clark believes that Australia is likely to buy Britain’s Astute-class nuclear-powered submarine. Clark doubts that the US will make its Virginia-class submarine available to Australia under the recently-announced three-nation AUKUS alliance. He adds that the Astute-class vessel is smaller and significantly less expensive, and is designed for a range of different missions. Clark adds that the US is also highly unlikely to lease refurbished nuclear submarines to Australia.

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57% of Australians approve of the Federal Government’s agreement to purchase nuclear submarines from the USA

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Sep-21

A special Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey shows that 57% of Australians approve of the Federal Government’s agreement to buy nuclear-powered submarines from the US, while 43% disapprove. Some 89% of L-NP supporters approve of the agreement, compared to 47% of ALP supporters and only 14% of Greens supporters. Meanwhile, 68% of men and 46% of women approve of the agreement. There is also a clear ‘age gap’ on views of the agreement, with strong approval among people aged 50-64 (60%) and those aged 65+ (72%); in contrast, 53% of people aged 18-24 and 51% of those aged 25-34 disapprove of the agreement. This Roy Morgan Snap SMS survey was conducted with an Australia-wide cross-section of 1,714 Australians aged 18+ on 16 September.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Australia’s nuclear sea zone

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 3 : 17-Sep-21

Australia’s new fleet of up to eight nuclear-powered submarines will cost significantly more than the cancelled deal to build 12 French-designed conventional subs. The first of the nuclear vessels is also unlikely to enter service until the late 2030s; the first Attack-class sub had been slated to do so in 2034. However, nuclear subs can be deployed for many months at a time without needing to surface, while conventional subs must do so regularly in order to recharge their batteries. The federal government has already invested some $2.5bn in the Attack-class contract with Naval Group. The government will also extend the operational life of the existing Collins-class submarines until the new fleet is delivered.

CORPORATES
NAVAL GROUP