Australia announced a A$12 billion investment to upgrade the Henderson shipyard near Perth, transforming it into the nation’s main maintenance center for nuclear-powered submarines acquired under the trilateral AUKUS security partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom.
The 10-year project marks the first phase of a 20-year plan to develop the Henderson Defence Precinct. The site will include high-security dry docks capable of servicing nuclear submarines operated by the Australian, American and British navies. Officials said the facility will support approximately 10,000 jobs.
“Henderson is very much an AUKUS project. It is where we will do sustainment and maintenance of our future submarines,” said Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, according to Reuters. He said the upgraded docks would be available to the US once operational and noted that total investment could reach A$25b.
Under the AUKUS framework, Australia plans to acquire three to five US-built Virginia-class attack submarines within the next 15 years. These will be followed by a new class of submarines jointly developed with the US and UK, while domestic shipbuilding infrastructure is expanded to support later deliveries.
In addition to submarine maintenance, the expanded shipyard will also host production lines for landing craft, new amphibious vessels for the Australian Army, and, in the future, Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy.
“This package is about what Australia needs to do to live up to its strategic moment,” Marles said, as quoted by Deutsche Welle.
Increased patrols will reduce Chinese regional influence
Following the completion of the Henderson upgrade, nuclear-powered submarines from the three AUKUS partners stationed or maintained in Western Australia are expected to conduct joint patrols across the Pacific region. The Australian government has said such deployments will enhance regional stability and help counter growing Chinese influence.
Meanwhile, a congressional review in Washington is examining the pact’s alignment with former US president Donald Trump’s “America First” platform. Nonetheless, bipartisan congressional leaders have continued to express support for AUKUS.
“I have got no doubt this decision will be welcomed in the United States, as it will be welcomed in the United Kingdom, because it is another step down the AUKUS path,” Marles said.
The AUKUS agreement also includes long-term collaboration on emerging defense technologies, such as autonomous underwater systems, hypersonic weapons and artificial intelligence, with joint projects expected to continue through at least 2050.