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.

 

[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.

 

[Akshat]

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.

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.

 

[Mahantesh]

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. In addition to this India & China both are big, super powers in this region, so called 5 eyes don't have useful intrests in this region, also their hidden agenda won't work here!! growing diplomacy between these two Asian giants can assure mutual growth and prosperity will prevails peace and stability in this region. With India other countries can make agreements with its one universe and one family concept.