UK, US & Australia Take Huge New Step with AUKUS Attack Submarine

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