Australia to spend US$8 bn on nuclear sub shipyard facility

SYDNEY, Sept 14: Australia will spend an initial Aus$12 billion (US$8 billion) to upgrade shipyard facilities for a future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, the government said Sunday.

The investment is to be spent over a decade to transform a shipbuilding and maintenance precinct in Perth, Western Australia, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

The government is ploughing money into Perth's Henderson Defence Precinct after signing the 2021 AUKUS pact with Britain and the United States to arm its navy with nuclear-powered submarines.

The shipyard development is part of a major military restructure to improve Australia's long-range strike capabilities in the face of China's expanding military strength across the Pacific.    �"AFP