The governments of Australia and the United Kingdom signed the landmark Geelong Treaty, a 50-year defense cooperation agreement that anchors the construction, operation, and long-term sustainment of the next-generation SSN-AUKUS class of nuclear-powered attack submarines. This historic treaty marks a foundational shift in the AUKUS partnership by securing bilateral submarine production amid rising uncertainty over continued U.S. participation.
Under the Geelong Treaty, the British Royal Navy is committed to acquiring up to twelve SSN-AUKUS submarines to replace its current Astute-class submarine fleet. The UK aims to achieve a build rate of one submarine every 18 months, with deliveries beginning in the late 2030s and continuing through the mid-2040s. Simultaneously, the Royal Australian Navy plans to build a fleet of at least five SSN-AUKUS submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, with the possibility of expanding to eight. The first Australian-built SSN-AUKUS submarine is expected to enter service in the early 2040s, marking a milestone in sovereign nuclear submarine construction.
To bridge the capability gap until domestic construction is operational, Australia will also acquire three U.S.-built Virginia-class submarines starting in the early 2030s. This interim fleet will ensure that Australia gains operational experience in nuclear-powered submarine operations while training its personnel in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy. Australian crews are already embedded with allied forces, participating in maintenance operations and gaining hands-on nuclear systems exposure.
The SSN-AUKUS class itself represents the most advanced allied submarine platform ever developed. Based on the UK’s SSNR (Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement) design, the submarine will incorporate U.S.-developed propulsion systems and vertical launch capabilities, including Tomahawk cruise missile integration. This new generation of submarine will feature enhanced stealth, high-endurance nuclear reactors, advanced sonar suites, cyber-resilient command systems, and artificial intelligence-assisted tactical management tools. Designed for multi-mission roles ranging from anti-submarine warfare to long-range strike and intelligence gathering, the SSN-AUKUS fleet is expected to provide strategic underwater dominance well into the 2080s.
The treaty has significant implications for the defense industries of all three AUKUS nations. Australia is investing $4.6 billion into the British defense industrial base to support reactor design, component manufacturing, and workforce development. Additionally, Canberra has already contributed $1.6 billion to the U.S. submarine industrial base, with payments expected to reach $2 billion by the end of 2025. These funds are intended to boost U.S. shipyard capacity, especially for Virginia-class submarine production, which the U.S. Congress is now attempting to expand to meet both domestic and AUKUS-related demands.
In the UK, BAE Systems and Babcock have initiated long-lead procurement contracts for critical SSN-AUKUS components, including weapon launch systems, with Barrow-in-Furness set as the primary construction site. The UK Ministry of Defence projects the SSN-AUKUS program could generate over £20 billion in export revenue through cross-national supply chains over the next 25 years. British firms will supply parts for submarines built in Australia, and Australian industries will feed components into UK builds, establishing a bilateral, interoperable submarine production ecosystem.
The treaty includes detailed provisions on regulatory oversight, nuclear stewardship, and waste management to ensure compliance with international non-proliferation standards. Australia will manage spent nuclear fuel domestically, and both nations have committed to transparent governance mechanisms. Exit clauses allow for withdrawal from the agreement with one year’s notice, providing a risk management buffer against future political shifts.
One of the most strategic aspects of the Geelong Treaty is its timing. The agreement was signed amid a formal policy review by the U.S. administration, which has questioned the long-term viability of the AUKUS pact under President Trump’s renewed “America First” agenda. Concerns have also emerged within the Pentagon over the potential impact of AUKUS commitments on U.S. Navy submarine availability. Critics warn that supporting Australia’s needs could delay Virginia-class deliveries to the U.S. fleet, prompting high-level defense officials to reevaluate timelines and industrial output strategies.
Despite this uncertainty, the UK and Australia have now locked in a self-sustaining, long-term submarine production model that ensures strategic resilience. This move reflects a broader evolution in allied defense planning, where regional powers are taking on greater autonomy while maintaining interoperability with U.S. systems. The SSN-AUKUS program also serves as a demonstration of how advanced undersea capabilities can be built and sustained through multinational industrial cooperation, technological transfer, and regulatory alignment.
With up to 20 SSN-AUKUS submarines planned across both fleets, supported by U.S. interim platforms and extensive trilateral industrial coordination, the Geelong Treaty defines the future of undersea warfare among key Indo-Pacific allies. Army Recognition will continue to deliver exclusive coverage on construction progress, industrial integration, and the strategic implications of SSN-AUKUS deployments shaping maritime security in the decades ahead.
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