US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy says Australia’s decision to acquire and operate nuclear submarines is akin to the 1961 decision by President John F. Kennedy – her father - to commit the US to sending a man to the moon within 10 years.
At that time, she said, the longest US space flight was just five minutes.
Addressing the Submarine Institute of Australia conference in Canberra, Ms Kennedy said she felt Australia was ready for this journey and was embracing the challenge.
“We are going to look ahead to SSN AUKUS and it’s going to be like, ‘I can’t believe we did this – that was amazing.’ I know there are a lot of steps between now and then but it is really exciting for me to be here to be part of this process,” she said.
Ms Kennedy said AUKUS Pillar 1 – Australia’s acquisition of nuclear submarines – had already accomplished much but we need to push forward and push fast.
“That is where all of you come in,” she told conference delegates.
“We need to expand and strengthen collaboration between governments, industry and academia to speed up and truly support the trilateral submarine industrial base and put more allied conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines to sea,” she said.
“One of AUKUS’ greatest and most enduring benefits is the ability to leverage manufacturing capabilities of all three nations for our common benefit.
“Right now, America’s defence industrial base is challenged. We can’t produce all the components needed to construct submarines. We need Australian companies to get into the Virginia-class vendor base.
“Currently only a handful are going through the defence industry vendor qualification process and we need more of you to do that.”
Ms Kennedy recommended Australian companies work and build relationships with US vendors and work with the Australian Submarines Agency to stay informed on current and future opportunities and deliver results.
“What we need are more players who are ready willing and able to participate. There is a strong demand for quality components today,” she said.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said he was constantly asked and would continue to be asked if AUKUS was really happening.
“It’s happening. It’s clearly happening,” he said.
“Some bits are happening faster than others. That is inevitable but this thing is happening.”
Marles said Australia and the US had undertaken to make it easy to transfer technology, particularly out of the US, and he would like to hear from Australian companies whether that was working as intended.
“What would give me real confidence if what we are seeing from where I am sitting is reflected in terms of the experience on the ground,” he said.
“What we really need to know from industry is the difference we have legislated being felt. Is it actually making it easier to engage into the US. If it’s not and there are things in the way, what exactly is it because we need to go and hunt that stuff down.”
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said Australia’s economic prosperity depended on access to the high seas but respect for access to the seas and for innocent passage were no longer universal.
“It must be assured through credible and lethal naval power. Our access to the sea, our maritime security and our economic wellbeing all depend on it. In the current strategic context a strong navy is not a desire it is a pressing need,” he told the conference.
“With our vast maritime responsibilities and relatively small population, nuclear powered submarines provide unique advantages. They offer endurance, lethality and stealth, capabilities which are essential for defending Australia’s extensive maritime jurisdiction.”
Notably, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) don’t need to periodically surface to periscope depth to recharge batteries, as do the Navy’s conventionally powered Collins-class submarines.
“In an age where artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced algorithms are being combined with existing advanced detection capabilities, the ability to disconnect from periscope depth for extended periods enhances survivability,” VADM Hammond added.
“I look forward to the fact that future generations of Australian submariners will be operating in a more capable much more survivable platform than what their forebears will have operated.”
VADM Hammond said the AUKUS agreement and Australia’s move to acquire and operate nuclear subs was evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
“Remember we are not changing the nature of our submarine operations. We are just changing the propulsion system which enables them,” he said.