According to a PR published by BAE Systems on March 13, 2023, as part of the AUKUS trilateral agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, it was announced that BAE Systems will play a key role in helping Australia to acquire its first nuclear-powered submarines.
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Artist rendering of the future AUKUS class submarine. (Picture source: BAE Systems)
The three nations will deliver a trilaterally developed submarine, based on the UK’s next-generation design, incorporating technology from all three nations. Australia and the UK will operate SSN-AUKUS, as their submarines of the future, with construction expected to begin this decade.
BAE Systems has delivered five Astute class submarines to the UK Royal Navy, with the final two boats at advanced stages of construction at its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.
The first three of four Dreadnought submarines are also under construction at the site and the Company’s engineers are undertaking early design work on the replacement for the Astute class under a £85m contract announced in September 2021.
More than £1bn has been invested to develop and expand infrastructure at Barrow over recent years, including £25m in a state-of-the-art training academy.
AUKUS
On September 15th, 2021, a trilateral security agreement called AUKUS was announced for the Indo-Pacific region. The pact includes Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. One of the main components of the agreement is that the US and the UK will provide assistance to Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.
In March 2023 it was announced that the Royal Australian Navy would join the new SSN-AUKUS program to replace their Collins-class submarines.
