FILE … A Virginia-class submarine, the USS Mississippi arrives at Rockingham, WA, on a routine port visit. Photo: Department of Defence
A WA defence industry team is in the US to drum up more business as the UK Parliament announced a review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.
The WA Government also believes their defence industry companies can play a role in helping the US build more nuclear-powered submarines.
State Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia is leading the team which will hold meetings with US defence companies in Alabama, Connecticut and Washington DC.
The WA team will also attend a Sea Air Space Expo in Maryland, which attracts industry leaders and top military decision-makers from around the world.
“WA’s defence industry has the potential to strengthen Australia’s relationship with the US through its world-class workforces,” Papalia says.
“Our local businesses can help fast-track the construction of Virgina-class submarines — that’s good for us and our AUKUS partners.”
Under the AUKUS deal, Australia will buy three Virginia-class subs (nuclear-powered but not armed) and build eight more subs based on a British design but using American technology.
“The purpose of this mission is to showcase our defence strengths on the global stage and build relationships to help our businesses enter the Virginia-class supply chain in the US,” Papalia says.
The WA Government says defence is poised to become WA’s second largest industry after mining with tens of billions of dollars invested by the Federal Government on the Henderson Defence Precinct, the HMAS Stirling base and shipbuilding.
The government says local defence businesses could also play a role in fast-tracking the construction of nuclear-powered submarines in the US.
It points out that WA businesses already manufacture parts of Australian submarines on home soil and hopes that by building links with the US industry, they can become part of the Virginia-class supply chain.
UK REVIEW
The House of Commons defence committee is examining whether the AUKUS partnership is on track under the impact of recent shifts in political alliances.
US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping trade tariffs have fuelled growing tension between the US and its traditional allies. Trump ratcheted further discord by talking about annexing Greenland as a 51st US state.
The committee chairman, Labor MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, says the AUKUS alliance is “a vital partnership” between the UK, US and Australia.
“The Indo-Pacific is an area of key strategic importance and ensuring its safety and security is paramount,” he says.
“AUKUS has been under way for over three years. Our inquiry will examine whether the partnership is on track and consider the impact of geopolitical shifts since the initial agreement in 2021.”
