Australia Plans A$12 Billion Nuclear Submarine Shipyard Upgrade Western Australia

Australia announced a major A$12 billion investment to upgrade the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia over the next two decades, transforming it into a maintenance hub for the AUKUS nuclear submarine fleet. The AUKUS pact, involving Australia, Britain, and the United States, aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines by the next decade to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that the U.S. would be able to use the new facilities, reflecting the collaborative nature of the AUKUS agreement. The shipyard upgrade will also support the construction of new landing crafts for the Australian Army and general-purpose frigates for the Navy, creating approximately 10,000 local jobs. The pact includes the sale of Virginia-class submarines from the U.S. to Australia, with future submarines to be co-developed by Britain and Australia. The investment aligns with Australia's broader strategy to increase defense spending and sustain continuous naval shipbuilding capabilities amid a formal review of the pact by President Donald Trump's administration.