Australian Navy

Marles torpedoes French subs, but is yet to explain nuclear advantage
Marles torpedoes French subs, but is yet to explain nuclear advantage
Of all the places to drop a bombshell about Australia’s quest for new submarines, could Defence Minister Richard Marles have picked a worse one than Paris? The question put to…
Islands as stepping stones for India-Australia collaboration
Islands as stepping stones for India-Australia collaboration
As maritime neighbours, India and Australia form the bookends of the Indian Ocean region. At a time of “big power muscle movement”, as Australia’s Navy Fleet Commander Rear…
Of maritime security and a rules-based order
Of maritime security and a rules-based order
Maritime scholars and practitioners often wrestle with the question of what a “desirable” architecture for maritime security should be, and how must it be properly implemented?…
An AUKUS surprise – Best of The Interpreter 2021
An AUKUS surprise – Best of The Interpreter 2021
The buzz about an impending big announcement started the night before. But when the leaders from Australia, the United Kingdom and United States stood in a virtual press…
SSN vs SSK
SSN vs SSK
Are nuclear-powered submarines better – more cost-effective – for Australia’s operational needs than conventionally-powered ones? This is one of the many questions that deserve…
AUKUS and the nuclear non-proliferation regime
AUKUS and the nuclear non-proliferation regime
Whether Australia leases, buys or builds nuclear-fuelled submarines, it will be the first non-nuclear state to do so. The recent announcement of AUKUS – the Trilateral Agreement…
AUKUS and the CPTPP: It’s all about China
AUKUS and the CPTPP: It’s all about China
China’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) just hours after announcement of the new tripartite AUKUS (Australia,…
When you’re in a hole, stop digging: Australia and the nuke sub deal
When you’re in a hole, stop digging: Australia and the nuke sub deal
There is an old saying that if you find yourself in a hole, the best course of action is to stop digging. If only Australia understood this wisdom. Abandoning the French submarine…
Australia’s wartime seaborne trade: insights from before
Australia’s wartime seaborne trade: insights from before
China’s maritime warfare capabilities become more potent almost daily. Thomas Shugart’s new Lowy Institute paper explores this and then imagines the potential dangers arising for…
How nuclear subs could transform Australia, its alliance and Asia
How nuclear subs could transform Australia, its alliance and Asia
Australia is about to join an exclusive group of nations operating one of the most lethal military platforms ever conceived – nuclear-powered submarines. My initial thoughts on…