Huge blow for Australia's nuclear submarine plans as US government reviews AUKUS deal
In a huge blow for Australia's plans to acquire and eventually build nuclear submarines, the Pentagon has confirmed to 7NEWS that it is reviewing the $300 billion agreement.
Australia has already made a $500 million down payment to the United States for the first Virginia class vessels.
A US Department of Defense official says AUKUS is being reviewed 'as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous Administration is aligned with the President's America First agenda'.
'As Secretary Hegseth has made clear, this means ensuring the highest readiness of our servicemembers, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defence, and that the defence industrial base is meeting our needs,' the official said.
'This review will ensure the initiative meets these common sense, America First criteria.'
The Anthony Albanese government is yet to respond to the announcement of a review.
The prime minister is now under extreme pressure to save AUKUS, and will seek assurances from the US President Donald Trump that the deal is still on.
Albanese and Trump are set to meet, face to face, for the first time on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in the next week.
What is AUKUS?
Under the plan signed between former prime minister Scott Morrison and former United States president Joe Biden, the White House intends to sell Australia three Virginia Class SSNs (nuclear-powered submarines) from as soon as the early 2030s, which was authorised by the US Congress in December 2023.
Australia retains the option to seek approval for up to two more if needed.
Australia's Submarine Agency says, 'This acquisition will eliminate any capability gap and increase the three nations' (Australia, UK and US) ability to deter aggression and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.'
Australia will then build its own nuclear powered submarines based off technology from the UK.
Australia's nuclear-powered submarines - SSN-AUKUS - will be based on the UK's next-generation design that incorporates technology from all three nations, including cutting edge US submarine technologies.
The UK will commence construction of its first SSN-AUKUS in Barrow-in-Furness UK, as early as the late 2020s. The UK intends to deliver its first SSN-AUKUS to the UK Royal Navy in the late 2030s.
Australia will begin building its first SSN-AUKUS in Adelaide, South Australia, by the end of this decade, and plans to deliver the first Australian-built SSN-AUKUS to the Royal Australian Navy in the early 2040s.
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"I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. "Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital." So far, 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site but authorities say some of those could be people killed on the ground. The aircraft passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of those, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, according to Air India's latest advice. with Reuters The federal government is yet to determine if there were any Australian citizens or residents on a plane that crashed in India, killing more than 200 people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the disaster in Ahmedabad, in the country's west, was absolutely devastating. "In this time of tragedy, Australia's thoughts are with everyone affected," he posted on the social media platform X. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi and the Consulate-General in Mumbai are following up with local authorities to determine whether there were any Australians on board, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The Air India plane was heading to London's Gatwick Airport when it crashed just minutes after takeoff. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down in a residential area, crashing onto a medical college hostel outside the airport during lunch hour. At least one person is known to have survived. Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed," 40-year-old survivor Ramesh Viswashkumar told the Hindustan Times from his hospital bed. "It all happened so quickly. When I got up, there were bodies all around me. "I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. "Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital." So far, 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site but authorities say some of those could be people killed on the ground. The aircraft passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of those, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, according to Air India's latest advice. with Reuters The federal government is yet to determine if there were any Australian citizens or residents on a plane that crashed in India, killing more than 200 people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the disaster in Ahmedabad, in the country's west, was absolutely devastating. "In this time of tragedy, Australia's thoughts are with everyone affected," he posted on the social media platform X. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi and the Consulate-General in Mumbai are following up with local authorities to determine whether there were any Australians on board, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The Air India plane was heading to London's Gatwick Airport when it crashed just minutes after takeoff. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner came down in a residential area, crashing onto a medical college hostel outside the airport during lunch hour. At least one person is known to have survived. Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed," 40-year-old survivor Ramesh Viswashkumar told the Hindustan Times from his hospital bed. "It all happened so quickly. When I got up, there were bodies all around me. "I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. "Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital." So far, 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site but authorities say some of those could be people killed on the ground. The aircraft passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of those, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, according to Air India's latest advice. with Reuters
