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.
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.”
The jet-powered transport’s speed, survivability and multi-mission agility position it as a viable option to the C-130 for the US and NATO allies.
“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.
"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.
“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.
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.
It’s about improving existing platforms with autonomy, and applying AI, edge computing, quantum encryption, and sensor fusion.
“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.
In this exclusive commentary, London's ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, explains some of the decisions recently announced in the Strategic Defence Review.
"The spend, still seven years or so from the first Australian-flagged nuclear submarine, already has the submarine arm of the ADF on its way to becoming a fourth service: this newcomer is outpacing the Army, Air Force and surface Navy in its spending, complexity and risk," the report's summary notes.
“The reality is, we're already doing AUKUS Pillar II stuff with many of our allies and partners,” Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, the US Navy’s top submariner, said.
Protecting warfighters requires fast, accurate, and dependable systems that work flawlessly to military standards.
In light of Canada's recent purchase of JORN from Australia, Elizabeth Buchanan writes in this op-ed that the two nations should continue to foster a polar partnership.
“The long-term play for Honeywell is we want to be able to expand our capacity and meet demand with increased and resilient supply chains,” Honeywell executive Lee Davis told Breaking Defense. “The organization sees Australia as a good place to invest in a secure, like-minded nation.”
Australia is transforming its defense industrial base, focusing on submarine and missile production to solidify its role in US and UK defense supply chains under AUKUS.
AUKUS Pillar 2 is driving supply chain innovation and resiliency for non-submarine technologies that are key to the three-way industrial partnership.