UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division has begun construction of the US Navy's 13th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, the future USS Richard M McCool Jr (LPD 29), NAVSEA announced on 12 April.
Fabrication on LPD 29 began in July 2018 and the vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 2023. LPD 28 and 29 will serve as transition ships to LPD 30, the first ship of the Flight II class. LPD 17 Flight II ships will replace the navy's aging LSD 41/49 class ships.
The LPD 17 San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships have been designed to transport and deploy combat and support elements of marine expeditionary units and brigades. The will support amphibious assault, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions.
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
The USCG plans to award a contract this year for the construction of Homeland Security Cutters. The new vessels will replace the 60-plus-year-old fleet of Light Icebreaking Tugs.
The expansion of the Redstone facility in Alabama will enable Raytheon to increase production of Standard Missiles in the location by 50% and support Washington in refilling stockpiles after recent operations have depleted the Pentagon’s reserves.
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.