India Has Opportunity to Offer Nuclear Submarines to Australia as AUKUS Deal Facing Trouble

The ambitious AUKUS trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which promised to deliver advanced nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) to Australia, appears to be facing significant hurdles.

Recent reports from the US Congressional Research Service highlight challenges in the American shipbuilding industry, potentially jeopardizing the timely delivery of these crucial vessels.

This development has opened a window of opportunity for India, which possesses a growing indigenous SSN program, to offer Australia an alternative partnership.

The AUKUS agreement, announced in 2021, was envisioned as a key counter to China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. However, the US Congressional report suggests that instead of selling three to five Virginia-class SSNs to Australia as originally planned, these submarines might be retained by the US Navy and merely operated from Australian ports. This alternative would significantly curtail Australia's sovereign submarine capabilities and raise concerns about its strategic autonomy.

Adding to the complexity, the report proposes that Australian funds initially earmarked for submarine procurement could be diverted towards other defence systems like missiles, drones, and bombers. This shift in focus could indicate a re-evaluation of the original AUKUS objectives and raises questions about the long-term viability of the agreement.

Amidst this uncertainty, India, with its established and expanding SSN program, has emerged as a potential partner for Australia. India's first indigenously-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arihant, entered service in 2016, and the country is actively developing a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines.

An India-Australia SSN collaboration offers several advantages. It would allow for technology sharing and indigenous development, fostering Australian expertise and reducing reliance on external powers. This partnership would also ensure Australia retains control over its submarines, unlike the revised AUKUS proposal. Furthermore, collaborating with India could prove more cost-effective and offer greater flexibility in tailoring submarines to Australia's specific needs.

Strengthening defence ties between India and Australia would also have broader implications for the Indo-Pacific security framework. Both nations share a commitment to maintaining free and open maritime routes in the region and face similar challenges from China's growing assertiveness.

However, an India-Australia partnership is not without challenges. Australia currently lacks the expertise and infrastructure required for nuclear submarine operations. A significant commitment to technology transfer, training, and infrastructure development would be necessary. Additionally, such a move could potentially strain Australia's existing relationships with the US and the UK.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of an India-Australia SSN collaboration are significant. As the AUKUS deal faces increasing uncertainty, this alternative partnership presents a compelling opportunity for both nations to enhance their naval capabilities and strengthen their strategic autonomy in the Indo-Pacific.

 

[Blademaster]

Australia is just better off investing in AIP driven submarines and better lithium technology.

 

[sunil_aurora]

No our nuclear submarine development has used Russian technology and assistance. It would annoy them too much. We may need their help again !! While taking help from both factions we can not give what we got from one to the other.

 

[yang1ca]

India has never developed a nuclear attack submarine before even if it has some success on building a couple of ballistic missile subs which are not as complicated as a attack nuclear boat which requires to be much quieter than the former. In addition, the US and UK nuclear sub technologies much more advanced than those of both Russia and India. Indian military technologies are not even comparable with those of China! Wake up, Indians!

 

[linus52]

The Author is maybe not aware that USA is helping Australia set up train & fund submarines in Australia. English speaking countries even kicked out France so 5 Eyes, USA, UK, AUSTRALIA, CANADA & NEW ZEALAND combined will not allow non English countries build anything

 

[Anant]

Yeah... more nonsense and speculation from Defence.in. We don't have our own SSN built yet, and the idea is to offer them for sale? Need I remind here that SSN sales are a highly controversial topic, and as it is, AUKUS is probably going to be a benchmark on how you circumvent international treaties?

Moreover, Australia would have absolutely no reason to even consider India's SSN offer. Such a boat will almost certainly not be inter-operable with Western boats in terms of logistics. Moreover, as it is, we don't know when we'll get our first SSN. Ironic as that may sound, Australia might actually get their first Virginia-class SSN before we get our first SSN.

 

[coke]

Indian navy veterans always hated the idea of australia having nuckear subs bcz they considered the indian ocean as their backyard so india will never offer them any submarine ya if other offer only then india will offer

 

[Pad UwU]

LMAO 😹😹😹
how can we offer them when we are also searching for good submarine design and some nuclear propulsion one 🙃

 

[Sudha]

Indian navy veterans always hated the idea of australia having nuckear subs bcz they considered the indian ocean as their backyard so india will never offer them any submarine ya if other offer only then india will offer

Where did you get this idea of "IN hated the idea of Australia having nuke subs"?🤣😂😆😄😃😁

 

[Sudha]

Yeah... more nonsense and speculation from Defence.in. We don't have our own SSN built yet, and the idea is to offer them for sale? Need I remind here that SSN sales are a highly controversial topic, and as it is, AUKUS is probably going to be a benchmark on how you circumvent international treaties?

Moreover, Australia would have absolutely no reason to even consider India's SSN offer. Such a boat will almost certainly not be inter-operable with Western boats in terms of logistics. Moreover, as it is, we don't know when we'll get our first SSN. Ironic as that may sound, Australia might actually get their first Virginia-class SSN before we get our first SSN.

Yup with the producrion rate of MDL there is no doubt. But do you really think the collaboration under AUKUS will come into reality after the recent news on that?

 

[GMR]

The pets of USA deserve this... but India offering the subs is the joke of the decade 😄

 

[Radha Ramanan]

no u have to pity the author for for writing about his dreams,, how irrational they may be, no harm....

 

[Anant]

Actually the deadline for approval from CCS was 2024, and it did come on time. Hence, so far, we are pretty much nanny on on time.

True, Sir. However, the original deadline also called for the first boat to be delivered by 2032, which also doesn't look like it will happen. Moreover, as you are also very well aware, most of the delays we get is when we get down to execution.

 

[penki alok]

we don't know when we'll get our first SSN.

Who said india don't have their own nuclear submarine. Please cross check it.India is having ins arihanth and ins arighath

 

[Akshat]

True, Sir. However, the original deadline also called for the first boat to be delivered by 2032, which also doesn't look like it will happen. Moreover, as you are also very well aware, most of the delays we get is when we get down to execution.

I do agree there will be some delays for sure. But I am not sure if we see most of the delays in execution or not. I mean, mk2 has not even been rolled out for well over 2 decades. And they changed the whole design midway after wasting thousands of crores on the earlier prototype. The final design, or what is the presumed final design as of now, took over 15 years to arrive at. So the delays with DPSUs and DRDO are omnipresent.

 

[Anant]

Yup with the producrion rate of MDL there is no doubt. But do you really think the collaboration under AUKUS will come into reality after the recent news on that?

Um, the SSNs will be built by L&T and HSL at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, not at MDL. That said, none of that yards is exactly the most efficient.

That said, I am still fairly certain AUKUS will come to pass. However, the way I see it, there is going to be a change or two:

1. The original plan for getting Australia between 3 and 5 Virginia-class boats will happen. However, while the original plan called for 2 second-hand Block IV boats and a new-build Block VII boat without the VPM (plus up to two additional Block VII boats without the VPM) to be sold to Australia, what might happen is that Australia might instead get all four Block I Virginia-class boats instead. The Block I boats are between 16 and 20 years old. We might see those boats get an early second mid-life refit and overhaul and get transferred between 2034 and 2040 (at one every second year).

2. SSN-AUKUS will almost certainly be delayed, so these four boats would be a fleet for Australia while those boats come online. Combine that with the lower cost of second-hand older boats, and Australia may well decide to go for 6-8 boats under SSN-AUKUS eventually.

 

[Anant]

Who said india don't have their own nuclear submarine. Please cross check it.India is having ins arihanth and ins arighath

Arihant and Arighat are nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), not nuclear attacks submarines (SSNs). I said we don't have any SSNs, which we don't. You can't exactly use a SSBN as a SSN.

 

[MANIVANNAN N]

Taiwan will be right partner. Australia not in such dangerous situation.

 

[kurtwallis wallis]

US-Australia-Canada-UK will NEVER buys any defense equipments from India period....

 

[Anant]

Taiwan will be right partner. Australia not in such dangerous situation.

Taiwan has neither the money nor the manpower nor the wherewithal nir the necessity to operate nuclear submarines.

 

[The Presence]

Well, I'm an optimist.

To add another point, getting Australia onboard from the design phase will also lower our financial burden and hasten the entire project.

We will also get a lifelong ally.

 

[Amit Ray]

US-Australia-Canada-UK will NEVER buys any defense equipments from India period....

Know everything, already these countries are buying indian defense equipments directly and thru their proxies.

 

[Jock Campbell]

The submarines Australia will get never need to be refuelled over the life span of the submarines. Indian nuclear submarines have to undergo major nuclear refuelling every 7 years and lack the technology and stealth of aukus submarines. American and British submarines will rotate through Australia as it will be a major nuclear powered submarine maintenance port . There is no discussion to base American submarines in Australia as there is no need . Aukus hasn't stalled, everything is going ahead according to schedule. The author is only speculating and really hasn't done any research except bits and pieces from general media . Very poor journalism.

 

[Jock Campbell]

The pets of USA deserve this... but India offering the subs is the joke of the decade 😄

Australia would never be interested in submarines from India Russia's no 1 partner. They require high technology and stealth.

 

[Jock Campbell]

Um, the SSNs will be built by L&T and HSL at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, not at MDL. That said, none of that yards is exactly the most efficient.

That said, I am still fairly certain AUKUS will come to pass. However, the way I see it, there is going to be a change or two:

1. The original plan for getting Australia between 3 and 5 Virginia-class boats will happen. However, while the original plan called for 2 second-hand Block IV boats and a new-build Block VII boat without the VPM (plus up to two additional Block VII boats without the VPM) to be sold to Australia, what might happen is that Australia might instead get all four Block I Virginia-class boats instead. The Block I boats are between 16 and 20 years old. We might see those boats get an early second mid-life refit and overhaul and get transferred between 2034 and 2040 (at one every second year).

2. SSN-AUKUS will almost certainly be delayed, so these four boats would be a fleet for Australia while those boats come online. Combine that with the lower cost of second-hand older boats, and Australia may well decide to go for 6-8 boats under SSN-AUKUS eventually.

That is the plan Australia will operate around 8 submarines. By the 2040s Australia and UK will be building the same model nuclear submarines in both countries.

 

[Anant]

That is the plan Australia will operate around 8 submarines. By the 2040s Australia and UK will be building the same model nuclear submarines in both countries.

Hence why I said 6-8 submarines under SSN-AUKUS eventually. There is always the possibility of that entire class getting divided into two subclasses to bring in some level of incremental improvements part of the way through.

 

[Sandeep]

India will never collaborate with Australia to develop any nuclear submarines with them and vice versa because nuclear submarines and its technology is strategically important and very difficult to develop.

By releasing critical information and details no matter how close your allies are is very very dangerous as they can also become your enemy and that information can be leaked or even sold. They can also use that information to try and develop their own nuclear submarine and missiles.

It can reveal a lot of classified information on the strengths, weaknesses, endurance, nuclear reactor used and power generation, weapons capabilities, technology used, nuclear missile range and size of warhead, type and range of torpedos, sonar’s power and detection, submarine’s signature etc etc.

 

[Alyasa Gan]

Can indian make nuclear sub...? Australia question..

 

[Anubhav Sharma]

Well scale of economy might actually bring down the per piece cost and will make Aussies more dependent on us and common enemy china is always there

 

[Sparkle Studio]

India is not a partner in AUKUS, that club is closed to Asian countries, even Japan is not a member. Why should India share our technology with Australia ? Besides, lets 1st complete the project to time & budget.