AUKUS nations lay out plans for joint submarine development
A concept of what the SSN AUKUS may look like. (Image: MoD/Crown copyright)
Defence ministers from the UK, US and Australia have been meeting in London to outline plans for Pillar I and Pillar II development focused on the creation of a joint nuclear attack submarine.
The tripartite collaboration between the UK, US and Australia, known as AUKUS, has held its first UK-based meeting and begun work on a number of key defence initiatives between the partners.
In “Pillar I” of the partnership’s future plans, Australia has hopes to buy at least three Virginia-class conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s. In “Pillar II”, the three nations will look to work together to develop a new boat of their own, the SSN AUKUS.
That submarine will be Australian-built but US-equipped, and the three countries hope it will be delivered in the 2040s and operated within
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