‘Shortcomings and failures’ could sink Aukus nuclear submarines plan, UK inquiry warns

A UK defence committee’s inquiry has found ‘shortcomings and failings in the delivery of Aukus which threaten to prevent [the submarine project’s] promise becoming a reality’. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAPView image in fullscreenA UK defence committee’s inquiry has found ‘shortcomings and failings in the delivery of Aukus which threaten to prevent [the submarine project’s] promise becoming a reality’. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAPAukus‘Shortcomings and failures’ could sink Aukus nuclear submarines plan, UK inquiry warnsAustralia is dependent upon UK’s ability to deliver new submarines but report says ‘cracks are already beginning to show’Ben DohertyMon 27 Apr 2026 20.58 EDTLast modified on Mon 27 Apr 2026 23.33 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on Google“Cracks are already beginning to show” in the UK’s funding for the Aukus agreement that could derail the ambitious nuclear submarine plan, a British parliamentary inquiry has found, highlighting a threat to Australia’s security.UK shipbuilding has been under-funded for decades and the country’s submarine availability is “critically low”, the House of Commons defence committee’s report found.When the nuclear submarine HMS Anson visited Australia in February, it was Britain’s only attack-class submarine at sea. It had to be rapidly recalled to the northern hemisphere – ahead of schedule – when war broke out in the Gulf, undermining confidence in UK’s capacity and commitment to Aukus.The defence committee’s inquiry into Aukus “has revealed shortcomings and failings in the delivery of Aukus which threaten to prevent that promise becoming a reality”, the report said.“In the UK, political leadership – essential to secure the success of a programme of Aukus’s length, cost, and complexity – has faded. We call on the prime minister to take a more visible role in promoting and driving forward Aukus to counter the political drift that could see it derailed.”Australia is dependent upon the UK’s ability to design and build an entirely new class of nuclear submarine, the SSN-Aukus. Any delay or failure on the UK side could leave Australia exposed without any sovereign long-term submarine capability.Q&AWhat is Aukus pillar one?ShowPillar one of the Australia-UK-US (Aukus) agreement involves Australia being given the technology to command its own fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. There are two stages:• First, Australia will buy between three and five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the US, the first of these in 2032. But before any boat can be sold to Australia, the US commander-in-chief – the president of the day – must certify that the US relinquishing a submarine will not diminish its navy’s undersea capability. The US submarine fleet now has only three-quarters of the submarines it needs (49 boats of a force-level goal of 66). And there are significant concerns the US cannot build enough submarines for its own needs, let alone any for Australia.• Second, by the “late 2030s”, according to the "optimal pathway" outlined in Australia’s submarine industry strategy, the UK will launch the first specifically designed and built Aukus submarine for Britain’s Royal Navy.The first Australian-built Aukus submarine, for the Royal Australian Navy, will be in the water “in the early 2040s”. Australia will build up to eight Aukus boats, with the final vessels launched in the 2060s.Each of Australia’s nuclear submarines is forecast to have a working life of about three…

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