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Tag: nuclear submarines

  • ’AUKUS’ — Australia, UK, US Form Security Partnership to Counter China

    ’AUKUS’ — Australia, UK, US Form Security Partnership to Counter China

    Australia, the UK and US have formed a new security partnership in an effort to better counter China.

    Dubbed AUKUS, the partnership between the three countries is aimed at improving cyber capabilities, AI, quantum technologies and other undersea capabilities. The US and UK are interested in helping the Royal Australian Navy acquire nuclear-powered submarines. The arrangement does not mean Australia will become a full-fledged nuclear power, as Australia reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and not pursuing nuclear weapons.

    Despite the limited scope of the arrangement, a senior US administration official highlighted the advantages of nuclear-powered submarines:

    I do want to underscore that this will give Australia the capability for their submarines to basically — to deploy for longer periods. They’re quieter. They’re much more capable. They will allow us to sustain and to improve deterrence across the Indo-Pacific. 

    The official also highlighted the significance of sharing such technology with Australia, technology the US has only previously shared with the UK.

    I just want to underscore that this is a fundamental decision — fundamental — that binds decisively Australia to the United States and Great Britain for generations. 

    While China was not specifically mentioned in the briefing, sources told Politico the agreement was, at least in part, to counter China’s growing military power.

  • Russian Nuclear Submarines To Resume Patrols Of Southern Waters

    Russia’s nuclear submarines have not been spotted in Southern waters for more than 20 years. That’s all going to change soon.

    Reuters reports that Russia plans to send multiple nuclear submarines to the Southern hemisphere. It will be the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union that the country has sent its nuclear submarines to the South.

    An unnamed military official said the reason for the deployment in the South is merely for deterrence reasons. It’s a pretty good deterrent as Russia’s nuclear submarines are capable of carrying 16 long-range nuclear missiles.

    Of course, it’s not like Russia is just going to send a fleet of nuclear submarines right now. The country is going to send them in waves over many years.

    Still, Russia sending nuclear submarines to the Southern hemisphere is likely to raise concerns among certain countries. That’s the goal with deterrence, however, and it will likely work. Russia has the second most number of active nuclear warheads in the world, trailing only behind the U.S. Both countries still have enough weapons to decimate the entire world so the country is unlikely to see any aggression directed towards it from Southern actors once these submarines are deployed.

    [Image: Bellona]