US congressman Joe Courtney has given the clearest signal yet that Australia could receive second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States under the landmark AUKUS deal.
But Courtney – widely regarded as one of the top experts in Congress on submarines and shipbuilding – has vowed Australia won’t be receiving “clunkers” under the deal to be unveiled on Tuesday morning. He also dismissed suggestions the boats may have to be jointly crewed by US sailors, or that Australia won’t have sovereign control over its submarines.
The deal is expected to see Australia acquire three to five of the United States’ Virginia-class nuclear submarines, with the first to arrive as soon as 2032.
However, Courtney did confirm reports that Australian workers would likely be required to scale up production at the two US shipyards, operated by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries, that currently produce about two boats per year. “I mean, everybody’s going to be sort of contributing to each other’s needs. And certainly to the extent that, you know, getting the Australian workforce sort of up and running.”
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