Construction of the nuclear-powered submarines Australia is supposed to buy in the early 2030s is running late by up to three years, a review has shown.
| The nuclear-powered submarines Australia is expected to buy from the United States under the AUKUS pact could be delayed by up to three years, according to an internal US Navy investigation.
Congress approved the sale of used Block IV submarines to Australia between 2032 and 2035, and the sale of a new Block VII boat in 2038. However, this arrangement is dependent on the US meeting targets for its own needs. “We have an unprecedented number of submarines in dry dock or requiring servicing. It is clear that supply chains were affected globally, but also specifically for projects during COVID,” he said.
The review also showed that other projects were running late, with the first Columbia-class SSBN set to deliver 12 to 16 months later than expected. The US Navy’s Block IV Virginia submarines, which were bought from fiscal 2014 to 2018, are running 36 months behind schedule. The attack submarines are built by General Dynamics’ Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding.
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