Inside Australia’s $368 Billion Plan to Build a Nuclear-Powered Submarine Fleet
Australia has unveiled plans to invest billions in transforming its Henderson shipyard into a maintenance hub for nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS defense pact.
The government has already committed A$127 million ($85 million) over three years to modernize the shipyard, positioning it as a key facility in naval shipbuilding and maintenance.
Henderson will become the backbone of Australia’s future defense strategy, maintaining nuclear-powered submarines and building new landing craft for the Army and general-purpose frigates for the Navy.
This ambitious expansion is part of a larger A$368 billion ($245.8 billion) defense investment over the next 20 years, aimed at strengthening Australia’s naval capabilities.
As part of the AUKUS agreement, Australia will acquire up to five nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S. by the early 2030s, with additional submarines to be developed in collaboration with the U.K.
These submarines, although nuclear-powered, will not carry nuclear weapons, representing a significant shift in Australia’s military capabilities and naval strategy.
The shipyard expansion and AUKUS pact will generate 10,000 local jobs and firmly establish Australia as a leader in advanced naval construction and maintenance.
By 2055, Australia’s defense strategy, centered around the Henderson shipyard and nuclear submarine development, will have cost up to A$368 billion, solidifying the nation’s role in global defense.