‘Cracks are already beginning to show’: AUKUS is in trouble, UK probe warns

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-28T02:02:08Z","datePublished":"2026-04-27T23:00:00Z","description":"A parliamentary inquiry reveals there are already problems emerging that raise serious doubts about whether the submarine project can be delivered.","headline":"‘Cracks are already beginning to show’: AUKUS is in trouble, UK probe warns","keywords":"AUKUS, UK, Keir Starmer, USA, Defence, Just in, Screens Ooh! SMH, Screens Ooh! The Age, Screens Ooh! BT, Screens Ooh! WAT","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"David Crowe","jobTitle":"Europe correspondent","url":"/by/david-crowe-h0waa9"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/cracks-are-already-beginning-to-show-aukus-is-in-trouble-uk-probe-warns-20260428-p5zrie.html","@type":"WebPage"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"1322.6666666666665","url":"https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1.2547%2C$multiply_0.7025%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/052e94c5da0851e76d6f05aab37f5b11c374522c","width":"744"},"isAccessibleForFree":false,"hasPart":[{"@type":"WebPageElement","isAccessibleForFree":false,"cssSelector":".paywall"}],"publisher":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"628","url":"https://www.smh.com.au/metro-assets/assets/static/smh.png","width":"1200"},"url":"https://www.smh.com.au"},"isPartOf":{"@type":["CreativeWork","Product"],"name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","productID":"smh.com.au:webonly"}}{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/world","name":"World"},"position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe","name":"Europe"},"position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/topic/aukus-1nty","name":"AUKUS"},"position":3}]}AdvertisementUpdatedWorldEuropeAUKUS‘Cracks are already beginning to show’: AUKUS is in trouble, UK probe warnsDavid CroweUpdated April 28, 2026 — 12:02pm,first published April 28, 2026 — 9:00amSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.ShareAAALondon: Leadership failures are being blamed for slow decisions and funding shortfalls that threaten the mammoth AUKUS submarine program, with a British inquiry revealing a series of problems that put Australia’s security at risk.The parliamentary inquiry warns that the problems could snowball into a severe test for the AUKUS allies because investment has faltered, political leadership has dwindled and there are now serious doubts about whether the submarine project can be delivered.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey walk aboard the HMS Vanguard off the coast of Scotland last week.UK governmentThe conclusions are a wake-up call to political leaders and military chiefs in the three signatories to the pact – Australia, the UK and the US – when submarine construction is behind schedule.“We have deep concerns cracks are already beginning to show when it comes to funding,” said Tan Dhesi, the chair of the House of Commons defence committee, which undertook the first major review of the project for the British parliament.Advertisement“The investment pipeline has already faltered. This cannot be allowed to happen again.“Even seemingly minor shortfalls and delays snowball over time, with potentially severe consequences…

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