AUKUS

[ORAC]

https://archive.ph/2024.07.09-182914...-astute-class/

Australian submariners to serve on UK’s Astute-class nuclear vessels for first time

Three engineers pass nuclear operator course as part of the Aukus partnership

[Herod]

Nice to see, and if the names are an indication, one of them is a woman.

[helispotter]

Surnames apparently withheld for security reasons. Is that a UK thing or an Australian decision? But in the meantime, photos of graduation are in the media. In these times, it isn't that hard to work out surname(s). As these officers advance in their careers, will they only be referred to by their first name? "...Chief of Navy Isabella welcomed the latest graduates..."

[Bug]

Originally Posted by helispotter

Surnames apparently withheld for security reasons. Is that a UK thing or an Australian decision? But in the meantime, photos of graduation are in the media. In these times, it isn't that hard to work out surname(s). As these officers advance in their careers, will they only be referred to by their first name? "...Chief of Navy Isabella welcomed the latest graduates..."

I seem to remember UK doing same with military pilots names in press as only first name, but my memory of this is hazy!

[ORAC]

https://x.com/navylookout/status/181...713952407?s=61

Sheffield Forgemasters planning to build a 30,000 m2 facility to support AUKUS submarine component production.

If approved, it will be one of the world’s most advanced large machining facilities and be operational by the end of 2028.

https://www.sheffieldforgemasters.co...ning-facility/


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[bugged on the right]

Blimey, every time I see there's a new post on this thread I shudder. With a Labour government here, a Labor government in Australia and uncertainty in the US, I wonder if I'm going to read the project is cancelled. Here's hoping not.

[ChrisJ800]

Latest AUKUS meeting

You Tube

[Asturias56]

Originally Posted by bugged on the right

Blimey, every time I see there's a new post on this thread I shudder. With a Labour government here, a Labor government in Australia and uncertainty in the US, I wonder if I'm going to read the project is cancelled. Here's hoping not.

it was a Labour Government that built the UK atom bomb - and they were the people who secretly developed the Chevaline warheads for the Polaris system in the '70's

[golder]

It was the Hawke labor gov, that started the Collins class.

May 1983: The newly elected Labor government puts out the first tenders soliciting proposals for the Collins-class submarine.

3 June 1987: A $5bn contract is signed to build six Collins-class submarines. Each submarine is to be built in six sections with Australian companies contributing 60% of the work.

29 June 1987: The Australian Submarine Corporation site in Osborne, Adelaide is selected as the facility to build the new submarines. The site is opened by Australia’s then prime minister Bob Hawke on November 1989.

February 1990: Work on HMAS Collins begins. Named after V-Adm Sir John Collins, the Collins class is a Type 471 diesel-electric submarine designed by Swedish shipbuilders Kockums.

[Asturias56]

In all countries politicians of either stripe will cancel programmes if it suits them - Think Sandys and Cameron in the UK - both Tories, and the TSR2/F-111 imbroglio - that was Labour.

AUKUS makes eminent sense for everyone (well... except President Xi I'd guess) - if they can make a decent fist of keeping costs under control it should work

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

if they can make a decent fist of keeping costs under control it should work

Speaking on the US bit of that, we probably need a dedicated cost control team employed given how badly we seem to handle that of late.

[ORAC]

https://x.com/navylookout/status/182...905703178?s=61

🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸have formally signed a Naval Nuclear Propulsion agreement that allows the sharing of highly sensitive submarine nuclear reactor and propulsion technology.

This will allow the UK and US to transfer material and equipment to Australia required for the safe and secure construction, operation and sustainment of SSNs.

​​​​​​​https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a...-8-august-2024

[Going Boeing]

The US has relaxed the ITAR rules for the UK & Australia which will facilitate the purchase of submarine components (& other weapons) under AUKUS - this is a major step in the legal process that is required before any submarines are transferred or built.

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/08/us-to-approve-streamlined-itar-for-australia-in-order-to-speed-aukus-arms-exports/


https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon...g-defense-kit/


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-...m_content=link

[JeanKhul]

I just found this one. Maybe RAN will have their subs by 2040...

The AUKUS submarine deal has been exposed as a monumental folly – is it time to abandon ship? (theconversation.com)

[Lonewolf_50]

No, he doesn't have an ax to grind.
Nope.

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

No, he doesn't have an ax to grind.
Nope.

Keating or Fowler?

Where is the error in what the article at previous link contains? I haven't read the book.

I can also only see the explanation as "short-term political advantage" on one side and "fear of being wedged" on the other.

Years back, Dutton as Defence Minister, in a TV interview conceded the decision was only known by a hand full of people before it was disclosed.

How long did the coalition give the ALP to take a position on the plan before the announcement? What restrictions were placed on the senior ALP leadership in discussing what was proposed within their party? So much for the bipartisanship in Defence decision making that Linda Reynolds was at one point striving to achieve.

[golder]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

No, he doesn't have an ax to grind.
Nope.

The rubbish that is going to be written about the planned Virginia in AU-2032. The planned SSN-AUKUS UK-late 2030's, AU-early 2040's. Will keep us all entertained for years to come.

https://navalinstitute.com.au/aukus-...y-at-a-glance/
AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway at a glance

[rattman]

Originally Posted by helispotter

Years back, Dutton as Defence Minister, in a TV interview conceded the decision was only known by a hand full of people before it was disclosed.

Labor leadership found out on the 15th AUG, on the 16th the labor Caucus was told. 15th of Sept it was officially announced to the public

[DButler]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

No, he doesn't have an ax to grind.
Nope.

Well that's setting out the stall early - expect more of the same as time goes on

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by rattman

Labor leadership found out on the 15th AUG, on the 16th the labor Caucus was told. 15th of Sept it was officially announced to the public

Significantly more lead time than the impression I had gained from news media at the time. It would still be interesting to know what sort of briefings were provided to make the case at the time, but the mere plebs of the Australian public will likely never have the privilege of hearing the basis, we just get vague statements that are supposed to be a justification.