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

Sydney Morning Herald
April 28, 2026


London: 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.



The 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.   

“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 for the UK and wider Euro-Atlantic security, and our standing with our trilateral partners.”



The committee, with members from all major political parties, called for faster decisions and greater action to finish the facilities needed to build and maintain nuclear-powered submarines in the UK and Australia.

While the pact sets out plans for Australia to buy at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US over the next decade, these vessels are meant to be an interim step before the UK and Australia build the new AUKUS-class fleet in both countries to a shared design.

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The British government is planning to have up to 12 of the new submarines to defend its waters when it is seeing increasing incursions by Russian vessels. Australia hopes to have five vessels from the early 2040s, built in South Australia.

Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough, backed the fundamental case for AUKUS despite the changes in world politics over the year since the inquiry began.


Three Virginia-class submarines are due to be transferred from the US fleet to Australia under the AUKUS deal

“Any undertaking of this scale requires committed, consistent political will and leadership,” he said in a statement upon the release of the report.

“Unfortunately, we found that the UK’s political leadership on AUKUS has dwindled. AUKUS can’t be seen as just another defence programme; if it is to stay on track then leadership must come from the very top.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday played down the concerns raised in the report.

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Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota docked at HMAS Stirling in Rockingham, WA, last year.

Australia’s depending on AUKUS Virginia-class subs. The US says they’re not its priority
“There is support overwhelmingly from the British government, from Prime Minister Keir Starmer down, as well as from the defence personnel in the United Kingdom,” he said. “AUKUS is – to quote [US] President [Donald] Trump – full steam ahead, and I’m very confident that it will be so.”

The inquiry concluded that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had to play a “more visible role” in promoting AUKUS – and that more control needed to come from his office rather than the Ministry of Defence.

The report identified weaknesses in two major construction and maintenance bases in the UK at Devonport (near Plymouth) and Clyde (north of Glasgow) to ensure the Royal Navy could deploy submarines as promised.

“AUKUS has already started to hit bumps in the road. Submarine availability is critically low,” Dhesi said.

“Without urgent infrastructure improvements at HMNB Devonport and HMNB Clyde the government risks finding itself unable to meet its obligations under AUKUS.”



The key construction base for the AUKUS fleet in Britain is at Barrow-in-Furness, north of Liverpool, but the committee said the government was behind schedule in building the workforce and facilities needed to deliver the vessels.

The report was released at midnight on Monday in the UK (9am on Tuesday, AEST) after a year of review including testimony from ministers, defence officials and military experts.

Britain has committed £16 billion (about $30 billion) to AUKUS projects. This includes £4 billion for BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock to design components for the SSN-AUKUS, another £3 billion for manufacturing at BAE and Rolls-Royce'

Captain Nemo wrote on May 2^nd, 2026 at 9:34am:



Indeed

But if we want proper submarines, ie nuclear ones, they have to be integrated with the US and the UK, not with a fourth-rate non-power like France.
Japan should join AUKUS. JAUKUS.

Frank wrote on May 2^nd, 2026 at 11:24am:

France or any other country that starts with an ‘F’, should join, that way the name would be more appropriate.

Take the US out of AUKUS.


You AUKs are on your own

Frank wrote on May 2^nd, 2026 at 11:24am:



Why do we need deep water nuke subs?

Bobby. wrote on May 3^rd, 2026 at 7:52am:


Good place to hide when nuclear war is on, better chance to survive then in big city.

Marla wrote on May 2^nd, 2026 at 10:36pm:


Not necessarily, although it would be a change of unimaginable magnitude

Our biggest trading partner is china 🇨🇳.

They are also closer in our region.

Take the American bases out of Australia and replace them with Chinese ones and the balance of power in  both the pacific and Indian oceans shifts incredibly.
It was less than a century ago that Australia, China and Russia allies in war.