Incoming Defence Chief Mark Hammond tells AUKUS critics to ‘stop politicising’ nuclear submarine program

Australia’s next Defence Chief has told AUKUS critics to “stop politicising” the massive nuclear submarine project, declaring that the evidence so far shows the complex endeavour will succeed.

On the opening day of an international military conference in Perth, Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond has also talked up the capability of the country’s ageing Collins-class boats which the Navy will try to keep operating before US boats arrive in the 2030s.

“I think we should stop politicising ambitious, challenging programs with the partners being completely transparent about the risks and the challenges,” Vice-Admiral Hammond told the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference (IODS).

“This is not a simple program, but let’s put it into context, the first submarines we operated acquired just prior to World War One were the longest range, most capable submarines on the planet”.

“So, when I look at the next challenge, which is to operate the submarine capability with a different propulsion system, I know where people are up to it.”

Under the AUKUS program Australia is scheduled to receive at least three Virginia-class boats from the US next decade, before a new fleet of submarines being developed with the UK called SSN-AUKUS is expected to enter service in the 2040s.

Questioned on the unpredictable political situation in Washington, the Chief of Navy acknowledged that each AUKUS partner nation had to continually assess and recommit to the expensive project.

“I acknowledge there is political risk with this program. There will be for all three governments. It’s not just constrained to the US. After every electoral cycle, the Australian government will have to recommit to this program”.

“The evidence base so far is that every time one of the three party governments have conducted a review, they’ve concluded it remains in their best national interest, and they double down on it.”

In the first phase of AUKUS, US and UK nuclear-powered submarines are scheduled to begin rotations out of Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling naval base from 2027, but Washington will not sell them to Australia unless it can increase production.

Already Australia has transferred $3 billion to the US to help its shipyards to more than double their nuclear-powered submarine production rate from the current level of just over one new boat a year, to 2.3 per year early next decade.

Asked whether the Australian Defence Force needed to consider a “Plan B” for AUKUS, the Navy Chief insisted evidence in the US showed that domestic submarine production rates were improving so that Virginia-class submarines could be delivered next decade.

“They have shown me the evidence base that, where they are at in terms of production of Virginia (nuclear-powered attack submarines) and production of Columbia (ballistic missile submarines)”.

“The latest Senate testimony by the accountable officers in the US system is that they are seeing progress, the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) believes that they will achieve the 2.0 production on the Virginia program by 2030, not 2.33 which is an ideal number”.

“The graphs that they’re showing me is compelling in terms of have they turned up the corner. Are they turning the corner? There is evidence there to suggest – yes.”

At the same time as Admiral Hammond was speaking, Australia’s former ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, told the National Press Club he was a “little nervous” about America’s ability to deliver Virginia-class submarines under the AUKUS deal.

“I think the Americans have their own production challenges . . . we’ve got crew on the Virginias. There’s no problem in the military to military, or bureaucracy to bureaucracy level. It’s a question of whether they can actually build the Virginias fast enough.”

The former Liberal treasurer said Australia needed to put on a “full court press” in Washington to drum up “buy-in” from Congress and to also prove this country has the capability to host the submarines and not give the US “any hook not to deliver”.

Asked about the risk that the United States might renege on the commitment to deliver Virginia-class submarines to Australia, Mr Hockey said it was a “manageable risk at this stage”, but added that “every day counts”.

Last month The Nightly revealed Vice-Admiral Hammond was due to fly to the United States to discuss AUKUS progress with senior US officials within days of being named as Australia’s next defence chief.