AUKUS

China showed off its nukes and caused problems in the region: 5 Indo-Pacific stories from 2025

China was once again at the forefront of Indo-Pacific news in 2025.

Hegseth, counterparts praise AUKUS ‘commitment’ after Pentagon review

“The reviews are done. It's time to deliver,” said John Healey, the UK’s Secretary of State for Defense.

Lockheed’s Aussie arm makes pitch to sustain combat system on future Australian Virginia-class submarines

One Lockheed executive argued the company has scores of workers available for the job after a different sub program was scrapped in favor of the American boats.

Four defense primes team up to pitch development of SSN-AUKUS combat system

BAE Systems, Raytheon Australia, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Thales said they would work collaboratively to design a tri-national command system as a "shared solution for Australia and the UK which builds on General Dynamics' existing AN/BYG-1 system" used by the US.

Trump: US to share nuclear sub tech with S. Korea, build boats in Philly

The prospect of South Korea building its submarines in the United States would raise a litany of questions for the American maritime industrial base.

Trump backs AUKUS deal, pushing to expedite sub delivery to Australia

Navy Secretary John Phelan said the ongoing review is designed to make the original deal “better," to clear up some of the “ambiguity” and be a “win-win for everybody.”

Official signals changes to Taiwan military aid, potential AUKUS alterations

DoD's John Noh appeared before lawmakers, as they voiced concerns over America's Indo-Pacific stance.

Australia commits to $8 billion investment towards naval shipbuilding, AUKUS prep

More broadly Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles pledged to continue to increase defence spending to record levels to deliver the capabilities Australia needs.

Why it matters that DoD quit on a defense forum in Australia

The “cancellation of this dialogue is disappointing and counterproductive for alliance interests,” Rory Medcalf, head of the Australian National University’s National Security College, said. “It is in the interests of both countries that such dialogues resume as soon as possible.”

Australia pays US another $525 million to bolster AUKUS industrial base

“There's a schedule of payments to be made. We have an agreement with the United States as well as with the United Kingdom, it is about increasing their capacity, their industrial capacity,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Criticism, questions mount about AUKUS & US relations in Australia

"As the geopolitical landscape rapidly shifts, half the population (51%) say Australia should increase defence spending, while a minority (37%) say spending should remain at about the same level as now. Majority support for acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS has held firm (67%)," a Lowy Institute poll on national security issue found last month.

Pentagon’s AUKUS review unlikely to break trilateral program, say analysts

“While there is some risk and mixed signals from the Trump [administration], especially on the issue of US willingness to transfer Virginia-class subs to Australia, there is a potential upside if this review drives a more coherent US approach and cost/benefit approach towards AUKUS," analyst Euan Graham told Breaking Defense.

UK invests over $8 billion to support SSN AUKUS build plan

The investment comes as among the first in a bid to reach an ambition of manufacturing one SSN every 18 months, which are set to be delivered from the end of the 2030s.

Navy assures lawmakers billions were well spent in sub industrial base, despite lag in production

“Those efforts have been about workforce, hiring and retention. They have been about supply chain resiliency, modernization of the yards, strategic outsourcing [and] infrastructure issues,” Brett Seidle, the Navy's acting acquisition executive, told lawmakers on Wednesday.