• AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    8 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Defence Minister Richard Marles insists AUKUS partners are working “at pace” to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines after the United States revealed it would halve next year’s planned procurement of Virginia-class boats.

    Under the Biden administration’s defence budget request released on Tuesday (Canberra time) the US Navy confirmed it would order just one of the fast-attack submarines in 2025, rather than two, pushing a projected saving of $US4 billion into future years.

    Critics of the move, including vocal Democratic congressman Joe Courtney, who heads Washington’s so-called “AUKUS Caucus”, warned the decision would have a “profound impact” on both countries’ navies.

    In March last year the AUKUS leaders detailed a plan to begin transferring the first of at least three US Virginia-class boats in 2032 to avoid a capability gap as Australia’s Collins-class fleet is retired and British-designed submarines are built in Adelaide.

    This week marks one year since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined British counterpart Rishi Sunak and US president Joe Biden at a San Diego Naval Base to outline the AUKUS “optimal pathway” for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

    As part of the AUKUS deal, Australia will provide more than $4.5 billion to bolster America’s submarine industrial base, while the US aims to contribute a similar amount contingent on congressional negotiations over defence spending that are complicated by the Ukrainian war.


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