Image source: topwar.ru
The creation of a military-political Alliance AUKUS comprises Australia, the UK and the USA not only led to increase in the future, the military potential of Australia, but also to the emergence of certain risks. First and foremost, they are associated with the need for additional manpower, creation of new production capacities, the development of new logistics routes and the necessary infrastructure for the implementation of the marine programme of the country.
About the risks, said the Minister of defence of Australia, Richard Marles, speaking at a briefing to reporters. As noted by the head of the Australian military, the country will have to spend not less of 81.2 billion dollars for the modernization of its naval forces. The main goal of the upcoming modernization in Australia called confrontation with China as the main threat to the interests of the Anglo-Saxon coalition in the Asia-Pacific region.
Officially the construction costs of nuclear submarines has not yet been announced. But they will be very significant for the Australian budget. Thus, according to the Australian strategic policy Institute, the cost will be about $ 70 billion Australian dollars. However, the government believes the costs are justified because they will allow Australia to enter the "club" of countries that own nuclear submarine fleet. Today, these countries include the US, Russia, China, India, France and the United Kingdom.
In addition, Australia will have to spend a lot of money on the modernization of conventional surface fleet. The government plans over the next decade to upgrade all the frigates and destroyers of the naval forces. The country should extend already in service with the Navy's submarines.
According to the Executive Director of the Australian Association of defense Neil James, an important risk is that that subs can take the country up to that time, until they will be delivered according to earlier plans. This will require additional financial resources, and without help from outside Australia can not cope.
A separate issue is the training of the crews of nuclear submarines, which is also quite problematic in the current environment. First, the divers will have to dial the second – to learn to work with the equipment of the submarine. The modernization of the fleet requires a set of both military and civilian personnel who will be involved in the production and maintenance of submarines and other warships of Australia.
So now, the Navy began to interact with the Australian universities and colleges. Assistance in the training of personnel will have in the UK, which has its own nuclear submarines and can contribute to training Australian sailors and civilian personnel.
