Posted on 03/08/2023 10:50:51 PM PST by naturalman1975
The prime minister has declared Australia will maintain "100 per cent sovereignty" over its future nuclear-powered submarines as multiple leaks from both the United Kingdom and United States suggest two types of boats will be acquired under the AUKUS partnership.
Numerous media reports from both sides of the Atlantic, citing American and British officials, say Australia will buy the US-designed Virginia-class submarine as a stopgap, and then a future UK-designed boat under a multi-billion-dollar deal.
According to news outlets including Reuters, Bloomberg, the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal, Australia's "optimal pathway" will first involve the rotation of US nuclear submarines to this country beginning from as early as 2027.
The AUKUS plan to be unveiled in San Diego on Monday will involve the US agreeing to supply Australia submarines from its own fleet or construction schedule, as America's two production lines ramp up work to meet local demand.
"In the early 2030s, Australia would buy three Virginia-class submarines and have the option to buy two more," international news wire Reuters reported, citing two anonymous officials.
Speaking in India, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not comment on the specifics in the reports but confirmed he would soon meet with US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to unveil the full details of the AUKUS arrangement.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc.net.au ...
Subs down under?
....well stated!
The Australian government certainly does. The Australian services certainly do - although they also have their share of warriors for woke.
The public... informed people do. Trouble is, like most places I think, we have a lot of ill-informed people, and a lot who don’t want to be.
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