Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald AUKUS Investigated 02: Bang for buck?
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Dec 20, 2024 Jennifer Parker, an expert associate at the National Security College ANU and former Royal Australian Navy officer, dives deep into the AUKUS initiative. She discusses the ambitious plans for Australia to develop nuclear submarines, tackling the daunting financial and workforce issues involved. With costs projected between $53 to $63 billion, the talk highlights the training needs and political will required for success. They also explore the technological leaps this program promises, including stealth capabilities and future innovations like hypersonic missiles.
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Optimal Pathway Explained
- The "optimal pathway" for acquiring nuclear submarines involves phased integration, from rotational deployments to eventual independent design and construction.
- This approach aims to prepare Australia for the complexities of nuclear submarine ownership and operation.
Workforce Challenge
- The biggest challenge to the AUKUS plan is building a skilled workforce to operate and maintain the submarines and infrastructure.
- This involves education, training, and potentially immigration policy adjustments to ensure sufficient expertise.
Grow Domestic Capacity
- Develop a national plan for bolstering domestic industrial capacity.
- Invest in growing the economy and encouraging Australian defence primes to avoid over-reliance on foreign companies and streamline the Defence Force.