: Nuclear Subs Would Be Game-Changing for Australia—and a Major Provocation for China #WorldNEWS The heads of state of the U. S. , U. K. , and Australia will meet in San Diego, California, on Monday

Nuclear Subs Would Be Game-Changing for Australia—and a Major Provocation for China #WorldNEWS
The heads of state of the U. S. , U. K. , and Australia will meet in San Diego, California, on Monday amid reports that Canberra is planning to beef up its naval capabilities with nuclear-powered submarines, as part of a tripartite defense deal to counter the growing threat from China in the Indo-Pacific region.
While visiting Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that he will meet with U. S. President Joe Biden and U. K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but he spoke little about the submarines in question.

Reuters first reported on Wednesday that Canberra will over the course of the next decade buy up to five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the U. S. as part of the AUKUS pact between the three nations. Other recent reports have claimed that Australia plans to develop a new class of nuclear-powered submarines based on British Astute-class design that could include parts from the U. S. When asked about who will have operational control of the undersea crafts, Albanese said “Australia will retain absolutely our sovereignty, our absolute sovereignty, 100%. ”
The Virginia-class is the latest fast attack submarine in the U. S. Navy, set to replace the older Los Angeles-class submarine fleet. Fast attack submarines can be equipped with multiple payloads, according to the U. S. Navy, and can carry out intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions, as well as fire torpedoes and cruise missiles.

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Nuclear-powered submarines are considered superior because they can stay underwater longer, and only six countries currently have them. Australia acquiring a fleet of these vessels has been the centerpiece of the AUKUS partnership since it was announced in 2021, with the country having ditched an earlier deal with France for diesel-powered undersea craft. Still, the three AUKUS member-states had yet to iron out how to transfer the technology for the submarines to Australia.
A naval game-changer—eventually
Many observers believe procuring these nuclear-powered submarines will be momentous for Australia’s military might. In a February speech, Albanese himself touted the AUKUS pact as “the single biggest leap in our defense capability in our history. ”
Carl Thayer, emeritus professor of politics at the University of New South Wales-Canberra, tells TIME the submarines are a “game-changer” for Australia by giving its military long-range striking ability, making it more interoperable with the fleets of the U. S. and the U. K.
Australia currently deploys a fleet of six conventional Collins-class diesel-powered submarines commissioned between 1996 and 2003.