Following the news that Australian submariners will train on a new British nuclear submarine;

James Marques, Associate Aerospace, Defense and Security Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“The AUKUS security pact between Australia, the UK and the US is growing, with Australian sailors attending the commission of HMS Anson at Barrow-in-Furness Shipyards, the latest vessel from the ongoing £11.2 billion Astute-Class submarine program. This comes after the UK’s decision last year to share nuclear propulsion technology with Australia, tilting the UK towards a more involved strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, and signals stronger industrial cooperation with Australia.

“Australia plans to leverage American and British technology to operate a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines, joining an exclusive club of only six nations with such boats. Inducting Australian sailors on Anson begins the long and complex process of acclimatising the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to the demands of operating these highly technical vessels.

“Australia’s defense budget has grown consistently since 2020 and is expected to reach $44 billion by 2027, making it a lucrative partner. BAE Systems Australia has only just commenced construction on the first of a new fleet of Hunter-Class frigates. Defense cooperation between Australia and the UK makes sense from a strategic perspective and spreads costs for R&D-intensive projects such as hypersonic missiles and AI. It may also serve as a foundation for the UK to more widely enter Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets, where the naval vessels market alone is expected to value $15 billion by 2032.”