Pacific Perspective:Australian Government Chooses BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to Build New Fleet of Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarines

As part of the Australia/UK/US defence pact (AUKUS),contractors had to be chosen to execute Australia's plan for a new fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines.Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps announced the news in Australia.It is the next step by Australia on the path to build and operate its own submarines,according to BAE Systems.Under the complex agreement,Australia and the UK will operate a common submarine in the future,incorporating technology from Australia,the UK and the US,based on the nextgen design led by BAE.BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd,a unit of the Australian Defence Force,will now bring together their complimentary skills,expertise and capabilities under a collaborative arrangement in Australia,leading to the establishment of a long-term,incorporated Joint Venture.Said Charles Woburn,BAE Systems Chief Executive:We're extremely proud of our role in the delivery of this vitally important tri-nation submarine programme.Our selection as a Partner in Australia,along with ASC,recognises our role as the UK's long-term design and build Partner and as a key player in Australia's maritime enterprise and wider defence landscape.We look forward to working with ASC to develop an enduring,sovereign nuclear-powered submarine building capacity for Australia.*SSN-AUKUS will be the largest,most powerful and advanced attack submarines the Royal Navy has ever operated and will start to replace the Astute class,which BAE Systems is building at its site in Barrow-in-Furness in Northwest England from the late 2030s.Australia expects to receive its first SSN-AUKUS submarine in the early 2040s.BAE Systems is also designing and building the UK's next generation nuclear deterrent submarine,incorporating US technology,Dreadnought,with construction underway on the first three of four new boats.*In Australia,BAE Systems has a long and proud heritage over 70 years,providing advanced defence technology from air amd maritime sustainment to shipbuilding,protecting both people and national security,while keeping critical information and infrastructure secure.*For its part,ASC will be the prime contractor for the sustainment of visiting US and UK submarines;Australia's sovereign Virginia class nuclear-powered attack submarines;and the new SSN-AUKUS submarines administered in Western Australia;but actually built at Naval Shipyard Osborne,South Australia.Under the SSN-AUKUS programme,there will be a rotational presence of US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines,with sustainment services provided at Garden Island,Western Australia.In the early 2030s,Australia will acquire US-built Virginia class nuclear-powered attack submarines.Finally,in the early 2040s,the first SSN-AUKUS submarines will be delivered.ASC will provide sustainment,including short-term,medium,and deep-cycle maintenance.ASC is a government owned business enterprise involved with Australian naval shipbuilding as a unit of the Australian Defence Force,based at Naval Shipyard Osborne,South Australia.*BAE Systems PLC (OTCM:BAESY),Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)

Pacific Perspective:US,Philippines and Australia Initiate Joint Patrols

On 21 November 2023,the US Navy,the Philippines Navy and Philippines Air Force began joint patrols of the South China Sea both by air and sea.The joint patrols lasted through 23 November and,separately,the Australian Defence Force and the Philippines Navy and Air Force conducted joint patrols a few days later.The US State Department has ascertained in a report that China's claims to most of the South China Sea are not in accord with international law.Hence the patrols were undertaken to assert a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.The US-Philippines patrols began at Movalis Island,the Philippines' northernmost point,100 km/62 mi from Taiwan.They ended in the West Philippine Sea,part of the South China Sea within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).*The Philippine Air Force sent two FA-50 light combat fighter jets and an A29B Super Tucano light attack plane on patrol,while the Philippine Navy sent three unspecified warships.The US Navy sent a Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft,armed with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles for anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions,respectively;and a littoral combat ship.The littoral combat ships,after being criticised for being lightly armed,are now heavily armed with a number of deck guns,air-to-air and air to surface missiles,including US Army Hellfire missiles and Naval Strike Missiles.Indeed,some LCS's are now also armed with Lockheed Martin laser weapons.*Said Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.:Unfortunately,I cannot report that the situation (in the South China Sea) is improved.The situation has become more dire than it was before.Through collaborative efforts,we aim to enhance regional security and foster a seamless partnership with the United States in safeguarding our shared interests.*In February 2023,President Marcos added four new US bases to the five extant ones,bringing them into the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.*The Philippines Navy and Air Force later staged patrols with the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force from 25-27 November 2023.Said Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.:We endeavor to have bilateral interoperability in maritime security and domain awareness;test doctrines,existing protocols;and enhance efficiency;and foster closer cooperation between our countries' armed forces.This inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity and those that follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries.*The Phiippine Navy sent two warships on patrol.BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) is a former US Coast Guard Hamilton-class offshore cutter,currently armed with various deck cannons,including one by BAE Systems.The Devao del Sur (LD-6) is a Dock Landing-class amphibious warfare ship for Philippine Marines based on an Indonesian model.It is currently armed with eight heavy machine guns and carries two helicopters with hangar space for a third.The Philippine Air Force sent five surveillance aircraft.*The Royal Australian Navy sent the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156).Its armament features a 5" deck gun;Sea Sparrow and Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles;Harpoon anti-ship missiles;two triple torpedo tubes;and two heavy machine guns for extreme close-in defence.The Royal Australian Air Force sent a Boeing P-8A Poseidon on patrol.*For its part,China's Foreign Ministry said:Since November 21,the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command Navy Ship Yuenchung has conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea.During this period,the Philippines enlisted foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea,stir up trouble,and hype up regional peace and security,violating the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.* BAE Systems Plc (LSE:BA),Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

USMC. MV-22B Osprey and Australian Navy helicopter carrier HMAS Adelaide (L01)

Pacific Perspective:AUKUS Defence Alliance Being Phased-In

On 21 September 2021,the AUKUS Defence Alliance was established by President Joseph R. Biden and then Prime Ministers Boris Johnson of the UK and Scott Morrison of Australia.The Alliance was founded to enhance the collective security of the signatories in the Indo-Pacific Region.It provided for the sharing of nuclear propulsion information with Australia by the UK and the US for the purpose of enabling Australia to procure and operate nuclear powered fast attack submarines;the development of hypersonic and counter-hypersonic technologies;as well as cyber capabilities including Artificial Intelligence;quantum technologies;and additional undersea capabilities.* A major step in the nuclear propulsion sharing activity has been inititiated with the education and graduation of three Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officers from Naval Nuclear Power Training Command and Nuclear Power School in Charleston,South Carolina.They have taken an important step toward becoming qualified to operate naval nuclear reactors on submarines and aircraft carriers.Graduating were RAN officers Lt.Cmdr.James Heydon,Lt.Cmdr.Adam Klyne,and Lt.William Hall.They will continue their education on the Navy's moored training ship,and then in Connecticut more training for qualification as officers aboard Virginia-class nuclear powered fast attack submarines.Australia intends to procure at least three of the Virginia-class submarines,with an option for two more.The Virginia-class submarines will fill the gap left by Australia's retirement of its Collins-class diesel-electric submarines.The US and the UK will also design the SSN(R) nuclear powered fast attack submarine for the RAN.* The Virginia-class submarines are built by a partnership of Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat.* Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII),General Dynamics (GD)

US, Britain, and Australia form Indo-Pacific 'AUKUS' security alliance |...Deutsche Welle

Strategic Sense:Royal Australian Navy Goes Nuclear

The announcement on 15 September 2021 that tha US,UK and Australia have formed a new trilateral defence cooperation activity known as AUKUS is being seen as a geopolitical milestone as well as a military juggernaut.Central to the pact is the US and UK's promise to enable Australia to build a fleet of nuclear attack submarines.Over the next 18 months,consultations will take place to firm up the new trilateral security partnership,which is a cooperative effort by scientists,industry and defence forces to help achieve the construction of the new submarines in Adelaide,Australia.One of the most complex and technically demanding projects in the world,it is an historic step to alleviate unmet strategic needs in the Indo-Pacific Region caused by the rising ambitions of a Communist China,which appeaers to be on a neo-Maoist course of strident nationalism under the personality cult of General Secretary Mr.Xi Jinping.Besides building military installations in the disputed South China Sea,China has recently been curtailing civil liberties in Hong Kong and threatening Taiwan's independence.* Nuclear submarines have a far greater range and have higher speed than conventionally powered vessels.They can stay submerged for long periods of time,gathering critical intelligence- the unspoken capability of attack submarines.* Over the next 18 months,there will be a consultation period to review the programme,which is aimed at maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,ensuring that the lines of communication remain accessible to all. Besides the submarine,there will be efforts to maintain and expand the partners' knowledge and capabilities in the fields of cybernetics and artificial intelligence.* Former Director of National Intelligence Lieutenant General James Clapper,US Air Force Retired,told CNN: It's a very bold step for the Australian Government and people to take...given the dependence of Australia on China for its economy.It means better preparation for,God forbid,a hostile situation.More importantly,it means deterrence.* It's possible that the new submarine,using the American nuclear propulsion first shared with the UK for British attack submarines,may be based on the US Navy's Virginia-class attack submarine and/or the new British attack submarine design that is currently in work.BWX Technologies of Lynchburg,Virginia has manufactured US Navy nuclear propulsion components since the 1950s.* The programme signals another milestone in the renewed focus on great power competition.* General Dynamics (GD),Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII),BAE Systems (OTCM:BAESF),BWX Technologies Inc (BWXT)

Exercise Prepares US,South Korean,Australian and New Zealand Forces for Amphibious Assault

Exercise Ssang Yong 2016 is underway in the Pacific Ocean and the Southeast Korean Penninsula.More than 17,000 troops from the US,Republic of Korea,Australia and New Zealand commenced the drills on 10 March.On 12 March,US Marine Corps and US Navy personnel from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit,Camp Pendleton,California and the 31st MEU,Japan,joined ROK Marines,Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army troops for amphibious assault training at Doksukri Beach,South Korea.A flotilla of 19 ships took part in the effort,7 of them from Expeditionary Strike Group 7,which is drawn from 2 Amphibious Ready Groups and has more than 9,000 Marines.Ships from the Royal Australian Navy,Royal New Zealand Navy and 3 ROK ships from Commander,Flotilla sailed in a joint Marine Expeditionary Brigade/Expeditionary Strike Group.*
The role of the 13th MEU is to conduct amphibious operations that help build a greater partnership with other naval forces in the Korean theatre of operations,said 13th MEU commander Colonel Anthony Henderson.It gives us an opportunity to show how we conduct our full spectrum of operations from amphibious landings to humanitarian assistance.The MEU will help support the MEB/ESG with its ground,logistics and aviation combat elements,COL Henderson explained.Amphibious landings,aviation operations and landing craft air cushion surface operations will be supplemented by the Marines also doing community service ashore for a well-rounded experience.*
Upholding the reputation of the 1st Marine Regiment,the Marine Corps legacy of being fierce combatants in the Korean War,is very much on the minds of the 13th MEU Marines,who will execute live-fire training in the course of the exercise.*
What we have done for the last year as a naval integrated team with all these ships and how we function across our mission sets-using the sea as manoeuver,providing presence and ensuring stability by our operations-is what we train to and what we're prepared to demonstrate in Ssang Yong 2016,said Sergeant Cesar Martinez,an infantry platoon sergeant with the Fighting 13th Marines and Sailors.

RIMPAC 2014 Sinking Exercise Held

RIMPAC 2014,the largest naval exercise in the world,is well underway off the coast of Hawaii.It runs from 26 June to 1 August.Some 22 nations,49 surface ships,submarines,200+ aircraft and 25,000 personnel are honing their skills in a broad range of maritime operations.*
On 14 July,the USS Tuscaloosa(LST 1187),a de-commissioned tank landing ship from the 1970s,was sunk in a live fire exercise in waters about 15,000 feet deep,57 nautical miles NW of Kauai.Proficiency in targeting,tactics and live firing was achieved by the participating ships,submarines and aircraft,which hail from the US,Canada,Brunei and Japan.
According to Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Simon Cullen,Deputy Commander of the RIMPAC Combined Task Force,it enabled individual units to conduct training that they could not otherwise have in their own waters,and allowed them to improve their interoperability by working with their partner nations to achieve their training objectives.*
The SINKEX was conducted in strict compliance with the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency.