AUKUS on track, even ‘ahead of schedule’ for some parts, admiral says

WASHINGTON — The US, United Kingdom and Australia are on schedule — and even further along than expected in some aspects — in implementing the trilateral AUKUS agreement established in 2021, the commander of Submarine Forces for the US Pacific Fleet said today. 

“The most consequential allied initiative is AUKUS, which is on plan and in several areas ahead of schedule,” Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh said during the Submarine League Annual Symposium. “I see progress in AUKUS every day.”

The trilateral deal comprises Pillar I, which is focused on providing Australia with Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines by 2032, and Pillar II, where the nations are working together to jointly develop and field advanced military capabilities.

It’s not clear which areas of AUKUS are ahead of schedule. However, Cavanaugh pointed to the reactivation of Submarine Squadron 3 in the spring in support of standing up Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) based out of Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Stirling as evidence of progress on the AUKUS deal. Establishing SRF-West is a Pillar I priority enabling the US and the UK to provide a rotational presence of nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines — up to four from the US and one from the UK — at HMAS Stirling.

Further, the three countries announced in October that the US’s Virginia-class submarine Colorado would serve as the first submarine assigned to SRF-West, starting late next year. The vessel arrived in Australia last month as well to complete a “scheduled, monthlong maintenance period” before returning next year to establish SRF-West, according to the Pentagon. 

“They’ll return at the end of next year and establish their first rotational force there,” Cavanaugh said. “These aren’t just milestones, we’re really building a capacity and a capability there that’s going to benefit all three of our nations. At the same time, we’re accelerating innovation to expand our undersea advantage.”

Cavanaugh’s comments also come after the US, UK, and Australia concluded a naval exercise off the coast of California dubbed Maritime Big Play, which the UK’s Royal Navy described as the three countries’ “largest ever demonstration of uncrewed and autonomous technology” in support of AUKUS Pillar II. In particular, the Royal Navy said that the drill aimed to capitalize on more than 40 technologies spanning from manned, unmanned, and “multi-domain autonomous” systems” from the three countries. 

Additionally, the US Navy said in a news release the exercise’s objective was to “achieve milestones in integrating mature robotics and autonomous systems within AUKUS coalition maritime operations.”