Pentagon chief vows to honour US-Australia sub deal

WASHINGTON: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sought on Tuesday to reassure lawmakers over the US pledge to supply Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, amid growing concern that production is not rolling out quickly enough to meet the commitment.

Under the AUKUS deal signed to great fanfare in 2021, Washington, London and Canberra are cooperating on the joint development of cyber warfare tools, artificial intelligence and hypersonic missiles.

The agreement commits the United States to building cutting-edge submarines for Australia, an investment with an estimated cost of up to $235 billion over 30 years.

Australia plans to acquire at least three Virginia Class submarines from the United States within the next 15 years, eventually manufacturing its own nuclear-powered subs. The US navy has 24 Virginia-class vessels, which can carry cruise missiles, but American shipyards are struggling to meet production targets set at two new boats each year.

Critics question why the United States would sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia without stocking its own military first. Questioned by members of the US House of Representatives, Hegseth said his team was talking “every day” to US shipbuilders Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls to ensure that “their needs not only are being met, but their shortfalls are being addressed.” The former Fox News host, one of President Donald Trump´s most divisive cabinet appointments, acknowledged a “gap” between current supply and future demand, but added that submarine building is “crucial” to US security.