The UK's most senior military officer has said he's optimistic that "teething problems" with a troubled British-designed frigate project will be overcome, predicting Australia will soon acquire an "amazing new ship".
In a wide-ranging interview with the ABC, the UK's Chief of Defence Staff Admiral, Sir Tony Radakin, also flagged more visits to Australia from Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines as work continues on the ambitious AUKUS project.
Admiral Radakin travelled to Australia to take part in this week's high-powered Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Conference in Sydney, where challenges such as climate change and the rise of China dominated meetings.
During the conference, military chiefs also discussed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Admiral Radakin said had strengthened NATO.
Asked if he thought President Vladimir Putin's actions would encourage Beijing to launch a military strike on Taiwan, the UK Defence Chief played down the threat.
"I don't subscribe to the fact that, because something has happened in Ukraine, that means there's an elevated risk in this part of the world," Admiral Radakin told the ABC.
"I think there are some very broad lessons to learn from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. One of them is how difficult that has been at a tactical level.
"These military plans, when they come to execution, they are extraordinarily difficult and we're seeing that, even when you have an adjoining land border."
Admiral assures Australia's top brass that frigates program is in 'good shape'
While in Australia, Admiral Radakin also held talks with senior military figures in Canberra, where there was renewed focus on a troubled, $45-billion program to build a fleet of frigates, based on the new, British Type 26 warship.
Four years ago, British company BAE Systems was selected over rival bidders from Spain and Italy to build nine, new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates to eventually replace Australia's ageing Anzac-class frigates. However, concerns are growing over delays and technical problems with the Hunter-class project.
Admiral Radakin conceded that the UK's parent program was experiencing "teething problems" but argued the joint project was on track.
"The overall program is in a good shape, but what you inevitably see with a first-of-class, with these high-end designs ... is that there are teething problems with the first ship," he said.
"Those are being resolved and that's all going ahead very, very well.
"What Australia, I think, benefits from, is a design that is then being turned into metal, being turned into this amazing, new ship and the assuredness of that design becoming real and Australia being able to learn from that process.
"And we need these high-end designs because we need the high-end capabilities that go with it."
Australians begin training on Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines
With Australia working towards acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, the UK Defence Chief flagged increased cooperation and training with the Royal Navy, as well as more frequent visits by British nuclear-powered submarines.
"We've always had a strong relationship between our two countries, or two militaries, and especially our two navies," he said.
Admiral Radakin also revealed that Royal Australian Navy personnel have travelled to the UK to begin training onboard the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered submarines.
"Australian submariners are coming to Europe to experience a nuclear submarine and how we go about that, our capabilities and our tactics in the North Atlantic, all as part of this learning process," he said.
The UK Defence Chief also moved to assure neighbouring Indo-Pacific nations that Australia's plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact were not a breach of its nuclear non-proliferation treaty obligations.
"It's three, very responsible countries coming together. It's three countries that respect the world order, that seek to enhance stability, security and prosperity," he said.
"And the way that we behave, the way that we act in the region, we're exemplars in that sense."
