By Kris Osborn, Warrior
The US, Australia and the UK are surging forward with a multi-national effort to build a new generation of attack submarines intended to help deter China in the Pacific. The effort, widely referred to as AUKUS, is intended to result in the deployment of new Australian and British submarines, supported by cutting edge US f attack submarine technology.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy is preparing to launch its new submarine in the late 2030s and the Royal Australian Navy plans to do the same in the early 2040. The plans for each member-nation are quite deliberate, as the British Royal Navy intends to replace its current Astute-class of attack submarines with the AUKUS, and Australia will replace its aging Collins-class submarines. The US Navy, known for its success developing new technologies for its Virginia-class submarines, will provide collaborative technological input and cutting edge systems for integration into AUKUS.
Trilateral Synergy
Using common components and trilateral technological synergy, the AUKUS nation collaborators are pursuing an integrated force able to interoperate in terms of data sharing and communication to strengthen a combined deterrence effort deterring China in the underwater realm. Multinational integration is likely a large reason why Australia plans to acquire five AUKUS boats and then purchase as many as three US Navy Virginia-class attack submarines. It would make sense that the Royal Australian Navy would acquire Virginia-class submarines as well given the technological synergies
Once complete, AUKUS boats will displace 10,000 tons and be powered by Rolls Royce’s pressurized water reactors. Submarine crews from all three member-nations plan to train and patrol together using common parts and components sustained by joint maintenance support.
Counter China in the Pacific
Designed to counter-balance China’s regional and Naval advantages in the Pacific, the AUKUS effort makes great strategic sense. The People’s Liberation Army – Navy is already larger than the US Navy, and although it may not be superior in a measurable way, it is growing in size and technological sophistication. US Navy surface ships might be positioned to prevail in any kind of great power “open” or “blue-water” conflict on the sea, yet large deep draft surface ships are easily seen by satellites, drones and surface radar. For these and other reasons, the US and its allies would be well-served to preserve undersea superiority. It would not be an exaggeration to say that submarines could potentially be the difference maker in any effort to save Taiwan from a Chinese amphibious attack.
Attack submarines from all three countries could combine to generate massive amounts of firepower in the event of great power warfare in the Pacific, and technologically advanced boats would be well positioned to conduct clandestine reconnaissance missions closer to enemy coastline.
Virginia Technologies
The AUKUS deal specifically includes cooperative efforts to incorporate US Navy Virginia-class technologies, and all of the details related to this are likely not available. However Virginia BlocK III, IV and V attack submarines are built with a number of breakthrough innovations likely to inform the AUKUS effort.
For instance, Block III Virginia submarines are built with a “fly-by-wire” joystick driven automated computer navigation system. This system enables humans to perform critical command and control functions while a computer system maintains depth, speed and navigational precision. It is likely this next-generation kind of undersea navigation technology is being used for AUKUS as well, given its ability to move beyond mechanical or hydraulic controls and massively improve safety, navigational precision and vital metrics related to boat movement.
Virginia-submarines are also built with a new fiber-optic cable connecting incoming sensor data from a periscope to other locations throughout the boat, enabling commanders to see images without needing to stand beneath the periscope. This supports real-time, high-level decision making throughout the boat for commanders who will not experience any delay or latency when it comes to receiving the most timely and relevant sensor input.
Licensing agreement
In order to expedite and streamline development of the boats, all three AUKUS member nations have recently signed an agreement related to fast-tracking and sharing counter unmanned system vehicle technologies. This is critical in terms of rapid, successful and integrated development as it will enable member nations to share technologies without needing an export license, according to an interesting essay from European Security & Defense.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
