- As part of the AUKUS initiative with Australia and the US, the UK has given three UK
businesses a 4 billion pound ($4.9 billion) contract to design and build an attack
submarine powered by nuclear energy. - AUKUS established in 2021, the AUKUS is intended to be a strategic partnership among
Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States to bolster their allied
deterrence and defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. - The trilateral partnership, whichh builds on their decades-long security cooperation, has
two pillars. - Pillar I revolves around the acquisition and development of conventionally armed
nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy; - Pillar II calls for collaboration on advanced capabilities that will involve technology and
information sharing; - It is designed to equip Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs).
- In total, Australia will end up with eight of the new nuclear submarines, called SSNAUKUS.
- Those submarines will be based on a British design but have American technology or an
American combat system. - The deal marks the first time the US has shared nuclear propulsion technology with an
ally other than the UK.