Concerns over whether the new Henderson defence precinct outside Perth will have enough capacity to sustain nuclear-powered submarines has been top of the agenda during a visit to Australia by the US admiral responsible for the massive AUKUS program.
The Nightly can reveal Rear-Admiral Douglas J Adams, the Director of AUKUS, International, and Systems for the US Navy has held high-level talks with Australian Submarine Agency officials over recent days to discuss the ambitious project.
Defence sources have revealed to The Nightly that the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force has also visited Australia in recent days to discuss the deployment of B-52s and air-to-air refuelling aircraft in the country’s north.
Figures familiar with the Admiral’s visit say the military officer held meetings with senior officials in Canberra and Western Australia, where US Virginia-class subs are scheduled to deploy from 2027 under Submarine-Rotational Force-West (SRF-West).
According to figures connected to the Pentagon, the Admiral’s visit was particularly focussed on the recent plans to transform WA’s Henderson shipyard into a massive defence precinct that can support future AUKUS operations.
Last month the Albanese government revealed the proposed boundaries to transform the Henderson shipyard into a massive defence precinct to support AUKUS in a deal between the Commonwealth and Western Australia’s government.
Following the release of the long-awaited precinct plans, US military figures have privately questioned how many dry docks can be included in the proposed area dedicated to nuclear-powered submarine sustainment.
US figures have told The Nightly that the Pentagon’s long-held view was that the new Henderson Defence Precinct should eventually include three graving docks and one floating dock, to allow enough capacity for both Australian and US submarines.
Last month The West Australian reported that estimates for the overall cost of the Henderson Defence Precinct have ballooned up to anywhere near $70 billion, much higher than the initial $25 billion figure touted last year for the first decade.
The Defence Department has declined to confirm whether the topic was discussed during the US Admiral’s visit this week, as well as a series of other questions from The Nightly.
Admiral Adams is expected to return to Australia before the end of the year to continue discussions on AUKUS preparations, as US military personnel continue to arrive in Western Australia ahead of the beginning of SRF-West.
The Admiral’s visit this week coincided with the latest meeting between US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defence Minister Richard Marles, where the pair discussed joint military efforts in Australia.
In a statement issued after their meeting, the Pentagon revealed both leaders had “agreed to accelerate force posture initiatives at Australian bases, bolster cooperation in combined logistics, and build greater interoperability through joint exercises”.
The Pentagon statement also revealed Secretary Hegseth had reminded his Australian counterpart that US allies must “contribute to the collective defence and invest in their own sovereign security”.
Following his meeting with the US Secretary, Minister Marles again declared AUKUS was “moving at a pace”, telling reporters he was confident the conditions were being met for second-hand Virginia-class submarines to be transferred to Australia in the 2030s.
“The establishment of the Henderson Defence Precinct offers the opportunity for U.S. Navy submarines to undergo maintenance much closer to their critical area of operation, which creates sea days for the United States Navy, and that’s ultimately why this is such an important agreement from the United States point of view,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that he had done “further cleaning up” after his colleague Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy suggested in July that the planned rotation of US submarines in Western Australia could end in 2032.
Minister Marles has now arrived in the United Kingdom for talks with his British counterpart Wes Streeting where the pair will also discuss progress on the trilateral AUKUS partnership.
