AUKUS : US, UK and Australia forge military alliance to counter China

[Optimist]

Australia announces $15.8 million Propel Submarine Scholarship program

The Federal Government has launched a $15.8 million initiative called Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship program, to support the development of Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine workforce.

www.defenceconnect.com.au

The Federal Government has launched a $15.8 million initiative called Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship program, to support the development of Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine workforce.

Propel will offer up to 3,000 scholarships to students studying in priority STEM fields at Australian universities.

Over its three‑year rollout, the program will provide financial support as well as opportunities to learn from some of Australia’s most accomplished scientists and engineers. More than 800 students nationwide are already taking part as members of the inaugural cohort.

Delivered through a partnership between the Australian Submarine Agency and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Propel will help grow the highly skilled workforce needed to deliver and sustain Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines, a key capability under the AUKUS partnership.

“AUKUS represents one of the most significant industrial endeavours in our country’s history and the Albanese Government continues to invest in young Australians who will make up our future workforce,” according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles.

“In order to successfully deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program, we need to ensure we are developing the skills needed to build and sustain them.

 

[Optimist]

Aussie SSNs to pack VLS capability, US State Department confirms​

Naval
25 March 2026
|
By: Stephen Kuper

The US State Department has confirmed that Australia’s future fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines being jointly developed with the United Kingdom and the United States under Pillar 1 of the AUKUS framework will field a vertical launch system (VLS) capability.

The UK government has formally sought extensive technical assistance from the US to support the design and development of key systems underpinning the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program, in a deal now valued at around US$1 billion (approximately AU$1.42 billion).

The request significantly expands an earlier foreign military sale (FMS) case worth US$50 million (AU$71.6 million), reflecting the growing scale and complexity of the trilateral AUKUS effort involving the UK, the US and Australia.

At the heart of the expanded package is support for advanced submarine combat system architecture, including AUKUS-specific vertical launch tubes, common weapon launchers and modular support systems for all-up-round canisters. The request also covers network input/output units, servers, switches and bespoke electronics integral to a federated tactical warfare system.

 

[Optimist]

2026 National Defence Strategy: Australia to build fleet of Speartooth underwater vehicles

Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy has confirmed plans to fund and introduce a fleet of Speartooth large uncrewed underwater vehicles.

www.defenceconnect.com.au

Uncrewed and undersea warfare capabilities are considered to be force multiplier for crewed platforms and enhance the agility, asymmetry and survivability of the Australian Defence Force, according to the recently released documents.

Capabilities, like Speartooth and Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles, are envisioned to support the ADF’s maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and enhance its ability to detect and strike at long‑range.

“Speartooth is capable of conducting shorter range intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, strike and logistics operations at sea,” according to the IIP.

“Due to its smaller size and lower unit cost, Speartooth is optimised for seabed warfare and agile undersea operations, reaching areas Ghost Shark cannot.”

 

[Optimist]

RAAF takes delivery of advanced jammers for EA-18G - FlightGlobal

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has taken delivery of its first new jammer pods, which will equip its Boeing EA-18G Growlers. Raytheon parent RTX indicates that the units are the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB), a joint programme between the RAAF and the US Navy (USN), the only...

www.flightglobal.com

RAAF takes delivery of advanced jammers for EA-18G​

By Greg Waldron | 21 April 2026

The RAAF will operate the EA-18G out until 2040. SOURCE: Commonwealth of Australia
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has taken delivery of its first new jammer pods, which will equip its Boeing EA-18G Growlers.


Raytheon parent RTX indicates that the units are the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB), a joint programme between the RAAF and the US Navy (USN), the only other operator of the EA-18G.

The company indicates that the first delivery of the pods – designated AN/ALQ-249 – occurred in September 2025, and that deliveries will continue through 2026

 

[Parthu]

Models of SSN-AUKUS (same model for both UK & Aus) & the Dreadnought-class SSBN at Undersea Defence Technology 2026 (UDT2026) expo:



3D models based on them, taken from Navy Lookout site:

 

[lmaoxd]

not

Models of SSN-AUKUS (same model for both UK & Aus) & the Dreadnought-class SSBN at Undersea Defence Technology 2026 (UDT2026) expo:

View attachment 51196

3D models based on them, taken from Navy Lookout site:

View attachment 51197

View attachment 51198

not pump jet?

 

[Parthu]

not

not pump jet?

That is clearly a pumpjet.

 

[babablacksheep]

not

not pump jet?

Both have pump jets.

Pump jet looks like this

 

[lmaoxd]

Ohh my bad it seems like I mixed up propellers and pumpjets.

 

[Optimist]

Pentagon awards $276m AUKUS contract

The US Department of Defense announces the first major submarine contract to deliver on the AUKUS security deal.

www.abc.net.au

Pentagon awards $276m submarine contract in first for AUKUS pact​

By Brad Ryan in Washington DC

• https://www.abc.net.au/news/topic/navy

The Pentagon has awarded the first major submarine contract to deliver on the AUKUS security deal.

The $US197 million ($276 million) contract is for engineering and design work to support the transfer of nuclear-powered submarine capabilities from the US to Australia.

 

[Parthu]

US will send only used nuclear submarines to Australia under amended AUKUS defence deal

The United States will only send used nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of an agreement to "streamline" the AUKUS defence deal in a move branded on Sunday as a "cost-effective" by Defence…

www.france24.com

Instead of 2 used & 1 new-build Virginia-class boat, Australia will now get 3 used boats instead.

 

[lmaoxd]

frankly i dont think australia cares all that much, they dont really face any threat anyway and china is a threat they cant face with their current navy anyway. 3 SSNs is still 3 SSNs

US will send only used nuclear submarines to Australia under amended AUKUS defence deal

The United States will only send used nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of an agreement to "streamline" the AUKUS defence deal in a move branded on Sunday as a "cost-effective" by Defence…

www.france24.com

Instead of 2 used & 1 new-build Virginia-class boat, Australia will now get 3 used boats instead.

 

[Parthu]

frankly i dont think australia cares all that much, they dont really face any threat anyway and china is a threat they cant face with their current navy anyway. 3 SSNs is still 3 SSNs

Virginia is still the best SSN in the world today, hands down. No arguments there. So it doesn't really matter from a qualitative perspective whether they get second-hand or new-build boats. I'm not making a comment on that.

Just providing the update is all.