UK-Australia "go it alone", negotiate bilateral treaty to produce new nuclear-powered submarines

The UK and Australia have announced plans to sign a bilateral agreement to produce a new type of nuclear-powered submarine under the Australia-UK-US Enhanced Security Partnership (AUKUS) treaty.

AUKUS has standardized the use of British-made Sting Ray torpedoes on its P-8A maritime patrol aircraft. (Source: Baesystems)

On September 26th, in London, Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles met with his counterparts John Healey (UK) and Lloyd Austin (USA).

Reuters quoted Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles as saying to reporters after the meeting that Canberra will negotiate a bilateral treaty with London on industrial cooperation and technology transfer, allowing for the implementation of part of the AUKUS framework between the two countries.

For his part, British Defence Secretary Healey said that officials at the meeting had agreed to use British-made Sting Ray torpedoes on P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, which are used for submarine hunting in the Indo- Pacific region.

According to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, AUKUS partners have conducted critical land-based, sea-based, and electromagnetic spectrum tests to enhance combat capabilities as part of the second pillar of AUKUS cooperation.

The joint statement following the meeting affirmed that the defense ministers of the three countries are strengthening their capabilities in developing and supplying hypersonic technology for offensive and defensive purposes, and will hold a large-scale exercise using drones by the end of 2024.

AUKUS, a trilateral defense agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US, has two pillars: supporting Australia in acquiring conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines and cooperating in high-tech fields, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and hypersonic technology.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/aukus-anh-australia-danh-le-dam-phan-hiep-uoc-song-phuong-san-xuat-tau-ngam-nang-luong-hat-nhan-moi-287902.html