NUCLEAR OPTION
Rishi Sunak meets Biden to seal deal on hunter killer nuclear submarines during first visit to US as Prime Minister
BRITAIN’S fleet of hunter killer submarines is to more than double by the end of the next decade as part of a landmark deal with the USA and Australia to protect against China.
A new generation of nuclear powered subs will be designed and built in the UK with shared US technology - and the designs shared with the Aussie Navy to build their own fleet of new elite SSN-AUKUS boats.
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Yesterday Mr Sunak said the deal "puts beyond doubt that the United Kingdom is - and will remain – one of the world’s leading defence powers."
The historic accord will see the state of the art fleet in operation in the late 2030s following a construction phase which will create thousands of jobs in the UK.
It’s only the second time ever the US have shared nuclear submarine technology with allies - after a similar UK/US deal in 1958.
The new attack boats will be in operation in the Royal Navy by the late 2030s under the plan and will also give Australia its first nuclear-powered capability.
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The UK's submarines will mainly be built by at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and Rolls-Royce.
They will replace the Royal Navy’s seven Astute-class boats when they enter into operation.
The Sun understands as many as 20 of the new boats could be commissioned by the Royal Navy - with a final decision on numbers still to come.
Australia’s boats will be built in South Australia, using some components manufactured in the UK, and will be in service in the early 2040s.
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Rishi Sunak, Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden met yesterday San Diego to announce the next stage of the Aukus programme.
Speaking flanked by allies, the PM said: “Sixty years ago, here in San Diego, President Kennedy spoke of: ‘A higher purpose - the maintenance of freedom, peace and…security’.
"Today, we stand together, united by that same purpose."
President Biden said: "The United States could not think of two better friends to stand with. I am proud to be your shipmate."
PM Albanese said it was the "biggest single defence commitment in all of Australia's history."
As part of the agreement, Australia will buy US Virginia-class submarines in the 2030s as a stop-gap measure until the new vessels are operational.
Three nuclear powered subs will be sold to Australia to bridge the gap until the next generation AUKUS subs are ready by 2040.
Mr Sunak added: “The Aukus partnership, and the submarines we are building in British shipyards, are a tangible demonstration of our commitment to global security.
“This partnership was founded on the bedrock of our shared values and resolute focus on upholding stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
"We represent three allies who have stood shoulder to shoulder together for more than a century."
The Aukus partnership was announced in 2021 as Australia sought to respond to China’s assertive actions in the Pacific.
The deal caused a diplomatic rift with France, which had expected to supply diesel-powered submarines to the Canberra government.
The £5 billion extra for defence announced by Mr Sunak will partly help develop the next phase of the Aukus programme.
Biden told Mr Sunak: "First of all, I want to welcome you back to California. He's a Stanford man and he still has a home here in California.
"That's why I'm being very nice to you, maybe you can invite me to your home in California.
"But all kidding aside, I think it's an historic day for our countries."
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Yesterday Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: “This is a significant step forward for our three nations as we work together to contribute to security in the Indo-Pacific and across the world.
“Supporting thousands of jobs across the UK, with many in the north-west of England, this endeavour will boost prosperity across our country and showcase the prowess of British industry to our allies and partners.”
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