Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, Joe Biden, the American President, and Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, gathered at the Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, USA, on March 13, 2023, as part of the Aukus military alliance. STEFAN ROUSSEAU / AP
The British government announced on Sunday October 1 that it had signed contracts worth 4 billion pounds (4.6 billion euros) with several companies, including BAE Systems, to finance a new phase of the partial construction project. New generation attack glider SSN-AUKUS.
These contracts, which also involve the British companies Rolls-Royce and Babcock, are part of the Aukus military alliance, which was concluded between the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom to thwart Chinese ambitions in the region. Indo-Pacific.
“These submarines will strengthen the Royal Navy to maintain our strategic advantage underwater,” said Defense Secretary Grant Shapps as he unveiled the new move at the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester.
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The American, British and Australian leaders announced the launch of this joint nuclear submarine program last March (albeit without nuclear weapons on board). The British Prime Minister then praised “the most important multilateral defense agreement in generations.”
First deliveries in the late 2030s
In a separate statement, BAE Systems said the future SSN-Aukus will be “the largest, most powerful and most advanced submarine” delivered to the Royal Navy and is intended to “replace this submarine.” [le modèle] Astute.” For the British defense group, these government investments will cover “development work up to 2028” and the “recruitment of more than 5,000 people” at the Barrow-in-Furness site (north of England).
The first examples of this submarine are scheduled to be delivered in the late 2030s. Nuclear submarines are difficult to detect, can travel great distances for long periods of time, and can carry sophisticated cruise missiles.
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