Britain’s most senior military officer has said he is optimistic that “initial problems” with a troubled British-designed frigate project will be overcome, predicting Australia will soon acquire an “amazing new ship”.
Key points:
- Admiral Tony Radakin met senior military officials in Canberra to discuss troubled frigate program
- He wants to reassure Indo-Pacific nations that plans for nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement do not breach the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
- Royal Australian Navy divers are already training aboard the UK’s nuclear-powered submarines
In a wide-ranging interview with the ABC, UK Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin also signaled further visits to Australia by Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines as work continues on the ambitious AUKUS project.
Admiral Radakin traveled to Australia to take part in this week’s powerful Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHOD) Conference in Sydney, where challenges such as climate change and the rise of China dominated the meetings
During the conference, military chiefs also discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Admiral Radakin said had strengthened NATO.
Asked whether he thought President Vladimir Putin’s actions would encourage Beijing to launch a military attack on Taiwan, the UK’s defense chief played down the threat.
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“I don’t subscribe to the fact that because something has happened in Ukraine, that means there is a high risk in that part of the world,” Admiral Radakin told the ABC.
“I think there are some very broad lessons to be learned from Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. One of them is how difficult this has been on a tactical level.
“These military plans, when they come to execution, are extraordinarily difficult and we’re seeing that, even when you have a contiguous land border.”
Admiral assures Australia’s top brass that frigate program is in ‘good shape’
While in Australia, Admiral Radakin also held talks with senior military figures in Canberra, where attention was renewed to a troubled $45 billion program to build a fleet of frigates, based on the new British Type 26 warship.
Four years ago, British company BAE Systems was selected from rival bidders from Spain and Italy to build nine new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates to eventually replace Australia’s aging Anzac-class frigates. However, concerns are growing about delays and technical problems with the Hunter-class project.
Admiral Tony Radakin says Australia can expect to see more visits from British nuclear-powered submarines. (ABC News)
Admiral Radakin admitted that the UK’s parent program was experiencing “starting problems” but argued that the joint project was on track.
“The overall program is in good shape, but what you inevitably see with a first-in-class, with these high-end designs … is that there are initial problems with the first ship,” he said.
“This is being sorted out and this is all going very, very well.
BAE Systems is building frigates for the Australian Navy. (Provided: Royal Australian Navy)
“I think Australia benefits from a design that then turns into metal, becomes this amazing new ship and the certainty that that design becomes real and Australia can learn from that process.
“And we need these high-end designs because we need the high-end capabilities that go with them.”
Australians begin training on Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines
With Australia working to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, the UK defense chief flagged increased cooperation and training with the Royal Navy, as well as more frequent visits by British nuclear-powered submarines.
“We’ve always had a strong relationship between our two countries, or two militaries, and especially our two navies,” he said.
Admiral Radakin also revealed that Royal Australian Navy personnel have traveled to the UK to begin training on board the Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines.
“Australian divers come to Europe to experience a nuclear submarine and how we do it, our capabilities and our tactics in the North Atlantic, all as part of that learning process,” he said.
The UK’s Defense Chief also assured neighboring nations in the Indo-Pacific that Australia’s plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact were not a breach of its non-proliferation treaty obligations nuclear proliferation.
“These are three very responsible countries coming together. These are three countries that respect the world order, that seek to improve stability, security and prosperity,” he said.
“And the way we conduct ourselves, the way we operate in the region, we are exemplary in that regard.”