Amna: Beijing said today that the United States, the united Kingdom, and Australia had embarked on a “Dangerous path” after those three countries announced a historic submarine agreement yesterday in San Diego. It's known as aukus, for.
Australia, U.K., and U.S. Nick schifrin is back with this look at how it will extend one of the most important American weapons systems into waters that China claims as its own. Nick: Military officials call it one of their crown jewels. The nuclear powered attack.
Submarine, with technology so sensitive, it hasn't been shared with any ally in 65 years, until now. >> Aukus has one overriding objective, to enhance the stability in indo-pacific amid rapidly shifting global dynamics.
Nick: President Biden made the announcement yesterday, alongside British prime minister rishi sunak, and Australian prime minister Anthony albenese. >> One of the vessels you see behind me is a Virginia class nuclear-powered submarine, the uss Missouri.
Top of the line submarines are the vanguard of U.S. Naval power. Nick: As we saw for ourselves late last year aboard the same Virginia class, uss Missouri. Navy commander Carlos Martinez walked me on board. It can stay underwater longer,.
And travel farther, than conventionally-powered submarines. The crew shows how they get a torpedo ready to launch. Besides torpedoes that can attack ships, these submarines conduct surveillance, and can carry cruise missiles to attack.
Targets on land. It's the one system experts agree is the most difficult for China to detect and can sail through what for China are the most sensitive waters. >> If the operational commander tells me as a ship that he wants me to go to a certain area via a.
Certain route that's international waters, that's certainly within our right to do so. Nick: Does that include the Taiwan strait? >> The international waters of the Taiwan strait are available for navigation.
Nick: The deal with Australia, the U.K. And the U.S. Develops in stages. This year, Australian sailors will embark with American and British sailors. As early as 2027, one U.K. Astute class submarine, and up to four U.S. Virginia class.
Submarines will rotate through a base in western Australia. Beginning in the early 2030's, the U.S. Will sell Australia as many as five Virginia class submarines. Meanwhile, Australia and the U.K. Will both build a new submarine, called the ssn-aukus,.
Ready in the U.K. By the late 2030's, and in Australia by the early 2040's. It's designed to complicate China's military plans. As beijing tests more missiles than the rest of the world combined and has launched one of the fastest military.
Modernizations in history. Richard marles is Australia's defense minister. >> We are witnessing the biggest conventional military build-up that we have seen since the end of the second World War, and we need to respond to this. A failure to do so would see us.
Be condemned by history. Nick: The agreement as part of the Biden administration's plan to strengthen its allies. Last week, president XI jinping accused the U.S. By name of trying to contain China. To discuss this and the American drone forced down by Russian.
Jets over the black sea, we turn to Mara Karlin, who is performing the duties of deputy under secretary of defense for policy. Welcome back to the newshour. Mara: Thank you for having me. Nick: What consequences will Russia face for helping down a.
U.S. Drone? Mara: This was a routine operation the mq-9 was performing and it did it in international airspace. What we saw by the Russians was unprofessional. It was incompetent and it was unsafe.
Our colleagues from the state department are engaging the Russian government right now, but it is quite unfortunate to see them take such steps. Nick: Will there be a direct consequence? Mara: Our colleagues at the state department will speak with.
Them about what happened but I want to underscore, it is international airspace. We all know how to operate in safe, professional ways and that is not what we saw from the Russians. Nick: Let's turn to aukus. You said this agreement is not.
Aimed at anyone country, but to the independently have nuclear powered attack submarines complicate beijing's plans if it were to go to war? Mara: It is not about anyone country. It is about stability and security in the indo pacific.
It is about delivering deterrences in all four phases — Nick: Of the agreement. Mara: Of the agreement. Having three allies, three very close allies knitted together with this tremendous undersea capability will be important for.
Ensuring this region, the indo pacific region can maintain its security, stability and prosperity going forward. Nick: Is China more deterred by Australia having a nuclear powered attack simmering than it is by — attack submarine than the U.S.?.
Mara: The U.S. Is lucky to have a tremendous network of allies and partners in tremendous undersea capabilities. Having three allies with these capabilities, strengthening our defenses shows that we are willing to work together in any number of challenges.
The U.K., Australia have stood by the United States. Together, we have dealt with no shortage of challenges around the globe and now we are especially focused on the indo pacific. Nick: You announced that Australia would purchase new and.
Older Virginia class submarines. Will the U.S. Shipbuilding industry have to build extra submarines for Australia or will Australian cut the line and get a sub that was supposed to go to the U.S.? Mara: Australia will be purchasing a mix of submarines.
That are in service, and newer submarines. Those will deliver. The first one will be enhanced in less than a decade which is really fast given the significance of this capability. Our submarine industrial base has needed a lot of investment.
The Biden administration has pushed for that investment and congress has delivered. The defense budget was unveiled yesterday. There is $.6 billion in increasing our part — $4.6 billion in increasing our production.
Australia will also be contributing a proportional amount. We will work together with the Australians to make sure, as we have throughout the last 18 months of developing this massive plan that the heads of state have devised in ensuring.
They are getting what they need and we are doing so as well. Nick: Well Australia get to cut the line? Mara: It is not an issue of cutting the line. It is an issue of making sure we can increase our maintenance. We have a lot more submarines –.
We have a maintenance backlog. That will be very important to make sure our submarines are ready and out and about, and to be able to increase that production. We have put in thanks to the congress extra funding in that industrial base.
That early investment will have an outsized effect and I think we are increasingly going to see we have the facilities and the talent that we need to make all of this a reality. Nick: You acknowledged there has been maintenance issues, huge production issues.
The congress has funded two Virginia class submarines per year. Only 1.2 on average being produced. You cited the $4.6 billion number but the Republicans on the hill say that is not enough. Take a look at this statement.
From the top Republican on the senate armed services committee. “The Biden administration has never asked congress for the type of generational investment for resources to meet our own Navy's submarine requirements, let alone additional requirements.”.
This is somewhat in favor of aukus. What is your response? Mara: I have been pleased to see the bipartisan support. It really is a generational leap in this alliance. It is a game changer. In terms of the comments on the.
Need to invest in the submarine industrial base, we are working closely with congress to be able to max the investment that the industrial base can absorb. We are studying really hard to see what effect the investments are having as we go forward. Nick: The effect that aukus can.
Have. Do you think it will tax the industrial base further? Mara: I think it will help lift up the submarine base for us, the United Kingdom and Australia. Nick: Because Australia will invest in the American.
Industrial base just like the U.S. Is investing in themselves? Mara: They are indeed but I would underscore the increasing recognition that we as a country have in our spectacular undersea capabilities and the need to make sure we can maintain that competitive — that advantage.
Nick: Thank you very much. Mara: Thanks for having me.
