Visits to Australia by submarines based at Faslane must be increased, a new report has warned, despite availability of subs being ‘already critically low’.
The House of Commons’ defence committee this week said there was ‘deepening concern about the readiness of the Royal Navy’.
A report said the UK Government must inject renewed impetus into AUKUS – a landmark defence partnership with Australia and the United States.
And it warns that the scale and ambition of AUKUS means that it needs’ visible political leadership’ from the Prime Minister to counter the ‘political drift’ that could see it derailed.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tan Dhesi MP, said: “AUKUS is a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver state-of-the-art military capabilities, bolster the UK’s defence industrial base and skills, and to strengthen the UK’s relations with its partners, the US and Australia.
“The opportunities AUKUS presents are great, but so are the challenges it poses. While the promise of AUKUS remains, our inquiry uncovered shortcomings and failings that place it under threat.
“AUKUS has already started to hit bumps in the road. Submarine availability is critically low.
“Without urgent infrastructure improvements at HMNB Devonport and HMNB Clyde the Government risks finding itself unable to meet its obligations under AUKUS. Likewise, Barrow-in-Furness is absolutely essential to the success of AUKUS, and more investment needs to be made in the area.
“We have deep concerns cracks are already beginning to show when it comes to funding.”
In February the Astute-class submarine HMS Anson made an ‘historic’ visit to Australia, but the committee of MPs said this was not enough.
Meeting the UK’s commitment to increase visits to Australia from its Astute-class subs would be essential to maintaining credibility with AUKUS partners, the report said
“It comes at a time when UK submarine availability is already critically low, and against a backdrop of deepening concern about the readiness of the Royal Navy,” said a statement by the committee.
The committee called for the urgent removal of workforce mobility barriers, including considering an AUKUS visa.
Pillar 2’ of AUKUS will see the UK, US and Australia collaborate on advanced technologies such as hypersonics and AI, but the MPs said that it faces an uphill battle to restore credibility after a disappointing start.
The full report by the MPs is here: default