AUKUS GATHERS SOME MUSCLE, SO HOW WILL THIS AFFECT INDIA?

Xi will probably be consoled by New Delhi's cool reaction to the suggestion in January of the chair of the UK's defence select committee that India and Japan should join an expanded AUKUS.

- JOHN DOBSON

Monday was an important day for AUKUS, when leaders of the three countries met in San Diego to agree on providing Australia with nuclear attack submarines. This tripartite deal between the US, UK and Australia will provide the latter with a fleet of up to eight nuclear-powered submarines, forecast to cost up to $368 billion between now and the mid-2050s.

One US attack submarine, USS Asheville, is already operating out of an Australian port, and under the terms of the AUKUS deal the Royal Navy is due to make its first deployment to Australia in 2027. From then, the plan is for one UK Astute class and up to four US Virginia class submarines to operate from HMAS Stirling near Perth, Western Australia. Beginning in the early 2030s, the US will sell Australia three Virginia class submarines with the potential to sell two more if needed, pending approval from the US Congress. The third phase of the programme involves the design and construction of a submarine to be known as SSN Aukus, to be based on a UK design but incorporating US technology.

The increased Chinese naval power and assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea, has convinced the Australian government that it requires submarines capable of operating far from home bases, both as a deterrent and for attack capability in the event of a crisis. Nuclear submarines have a distinct advantage over the diesel-electric boats currently operated by the Australian navy as they don’t need to surface to snort in order to recharge their batteries. They can leave port and stay underwater for weeks, even months, thus avoiding detection.