By Olawle Abraire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
Sometimes in the year 2023, the heads of state from Australia, the UK, and the US (AUKUS) gathered in San Diego to unveil the Optimal Pathway.
The Optimal Pathway is a strategic initiative to create a comprehensive blueprint for equipping the Royal Australian Navy with advanced, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs). This collaborative effort is poised to amplify the defense prowess of our trio of nations, expand our industrial capabilities, uphold stringent non-proliferation norms, and bolster stability and safety across the Indo-Pacific region and further afield.
In a significant development for global defense and security, the AUKUS nations have announced the selection of a British-Australian vendor team, comprising ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems, to build Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines. This decision marks a major milestone in the AUKUS endeavor and is a testament to the decades-long defense, capability, and technology cooperation between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The SSN-AUKUS submarines, to be built for the Royal Australian Navy, will incorporate cutting-edge submarine technologies from all three nations. The design is based on the United Kingdom’s next-generation design, and the submarines will be equipped for intelligence, surveillance, undersea warfare, and strike missions. This will ensure maximum interoperability among the AUKUS partners.
ASC, which has been at the heart of Australia’s sovereign submarine program for decades, has also been selected as Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine sustainment partner. This is a critical component of the Optimal Pathway, designed to accelerate Australia’s ability to operate and sustain its own Virginia class submarines and contribute to regional security.
Warrior Talks to the Deputy, Army Futures Command
The formation of these strategic partnerships with industry is a significant demonstration of the trilateral industry supporting the Optimal Pathway. It will underpin Australia’s role as a capable security partner and responsible steward of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability for decades to come.
The primary goal of the Optimal Pathway has been to fortify and enhance the submarine industrial base across the three nations, ensuring robust support for submarine construction and upkeep within each country.
The building of SSN-AUKUS will increase opportunities for industrial base collaboration, strengthen collective industrial base capacity, and generate economic growth in defense and national security sectors in all three countries.
Australia has committed significant investment to ensure the success of the Optimal Pathway. This includes an AUD$1.5 billion investment for early priority works at HMAS Stirling to enable the safe and secure rotational presence of United Kingdom and United States SSNs through Submarine Rotational Force-West from 2027.
Australia has initiated preparatory operations for the forthcoming nuclear submarine construction facility at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide.
This announcement is a testament to the enduring trilateral partnership between the governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It supports commercial relationships and enables close industrial collaboration across the three countries in support of AUKUS.
All AUKUS partners are investing significantly and working at pace to transform and integrate their trilateral industrial bases to support SSN cooperation. This is a significant step forward in global defense and security.
OLAWALE ABAIRE is a researcher, writer and analyst who has written over 75 nonfiction books, He has master’s degree from Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria. He also works as a web content writer with the International Lean Six Sigma Institute, UK
