AUKUS and the Nuclear Option: the Life and Death of the Attack Class Submarine

In September 2021 Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States announced a historic security pact. Called AUKUS, this new framework commits the three nations to technologically align their militaries, including pooling their research and development capabilities. As part of this new agreement, the UK and US will aid in the delivery of an Australian nuclear submarine capability. The immediate implication of this announcement is the cancellation of the Royal Australian Navy's Attack class submarine, including its development partnership with France. The apoplectic reaction in Paris has led to the worst relations between France and Australia since the Vietnam War. But what was the stillborn Attack class submarine in the first place? Why was it cancelled and why are the French so upset by this agreement? Have the Australians breached their legal requirements? What, on earth, happened here?

0:00 The AUKUS Security Pact
7:46 Australia's Formative Experiance with the Oberon Class
17:21 The Trials and Tribulations of the Collins Class Submarine
30:41 The Origins of SEA 1000 and the Rejection of Nuclear Propulsion
39:40 Barracuda vs Soryu: the Competitive Evaluation Process
53:02 Contracts and Costs: the Life of the Attack Class Submarine
1:01:22 Why was the Program Cancelled?
1:11:32 Why are the French so Upset About This?

Essential reading:

Derek Woolner, 'Lessons of the Collins Submarine Program for Improved Oversight of Defence Procurement'. Parliament of Australia Research Paper

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0102/02RP03

Nicole Brangwin, 'Managing SEA 1000: Australia's Attack class submarines'. Parliament of Australia Research Paper.

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1920/AttackClassSubmarines

John Coles, 'STUDY INTO THE BUSINESS OF SUSTAINING AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGIC COLLINS CLASS SUBMARINE CAPABILITY', 2014.

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Coles_Progress_Review_2016-1.pdf

Grant Hehir, Auditor General of Ausrtalia. 'Future Submarine Program — Transition to Design'. ANAO

https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/future-submarine-program-transition-to-design

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