In an unprecedented military budgetary move, the British government declared on Sunday that it has sealed contracts worth £4 billion (€4.6 billion) with several conglomerates, including BAE Systems, to finance a new phase of the next-generation attack submarine project “SSN – AUKUS.”
These contracts, also involving British groups Rolls Royce and Babcock, form part of the ‘AUKUS’ military alliance, mutually agreed upon by the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, devised to counteract China’s aspirations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Unveiling this novel initiative at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Defence Minister Grant Shapps emphasised, “These submarines will enhance the Royal Navy with the objective of maintaining our strategic supremacy beneath the seas.”
Last March, the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia had revealed the launch of this collaborative program for nuclear-powered submarines (albeit without onboard nuclear weapons). The British Prime Minister then praised it as “the most significant multilateral defence agreement in generations.”
In a distinct statement, BAE Systems articulated that the future “SSN – AUKUS” will be “the largest, most potent, and most technologically advanced” submarine introduced to the Royal Navy, aiming to “replace the Astute model.” The British defence group indicated that this governmental investment will encompass “the employment of over 5,000 individuals” at its site in Barrow-in-Furness, Northern England.
The first models of this submarine are slated for delivery in the late 2030s. Nuclear-powered submarines, elusive and capable of traversing vast distances for extended periods, can carry sophisticated cruise missiles.
The formation of the AUKUS alliance and the subsequent submarine project sends palpable ripples through the geopolitical landscape, predominantly focusing on the ever-pertinent and escalating tensions with China within the strategically critical Asia-Pacific region. Experts anticipate that the newly declared financial commitment to the SSN – AUKUS will not only fortify the Royal Navy’s existing maritime prowess but also navigate the alliance into a potent position of strength and influence on the global stage.
Analyzing the cascade of these investments reveals a broader narrative where nations are re-evaluating their defense and strategic postures amid shifting geopolitical alliances and potential threats. This emergent situation has driven a substantial increment in defence budgets across various nations, prioritizing the integration of advanced technologies and strategic alliances, to secure and extend their territorial and global influences.
