As Australian resistance rises, is AUKUS in trouble?
An artist’s impression of the AUKUS SSN submarine. (Image: BAE Systems)
The tripartite submarine project is under political pressure from a grass-roots Australian Labor Party movement, but it could also have practical issues in its way.
AUKUS, the long-term, two-stranded defence agreement between the US, the UK and Australia, faces a serious of hurdle to overcome if it is ever to achieve its goals. Since the election of Donald Trump in the US, and his administration’s dramatic shift on defence spending and the use of tariffs, there has been growing popular and political concern in Australia over whether the deal makes sense.
So can AUKUS survive the drop-off in Australian support? And are there other elements of the plan that should concern the industry?
The terms of AUKUS, as set out in 2021, exist in two “pillars”.
In
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Germany goes for more US equipment for F127 frigates with SPY-6 radar choice]()
Germany goes for more US equipment for F127 frigates with SPY-6 radar choice
If the foreign military sale request is approved, Germany would be the first country outside the US to acquire the technology, which is currently used extensively by the US Navy.
-
![Beyond GPS: How LEO satellites are changing the game in naval navigation]()
Beyond GPS: How LEO satellites are changing the game in naval navigation
Satellite navigation is increasingly critical for global maritime defence, and Low Earth Orbit satellites are rapidly overtaking the traditional and more widely used Medium Earth Orbit option as they are less susceptible to jamming or spoofing.
-
![US Navy seeks AI software suppliers to bolster air and missile defence]()
US Navy seeks AI software suppliers to bolster air and missile defence
The US Navy is conducting market research to find AI software products for the Collaborative Integrated Air and Missile Defence Planning Programme.
-
![Turkey’s Goksur naval missile completes first live-fire intercept]()
Turkey’s Goksur naval missile completes first live-fire intercept
The Goksur will be available in a range of configurations and could be integrated into Turkey’s nascent Steel Dome which is designed to provide multi-layered protection against a range of aerial targets from mortars to aircraft.
