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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Tory Shepherd

UK, US or a hybrid? Intense speculation as Australia’s $170bn nuclear submarine choice looms

Surfaced submarine seen from head on
HMS Astute, the lead boat of the Royal Navy Astute-class. Defence experts are predicting Australia will opt for a new design for its Aukus-led nuclear submarine program. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images

Australia is set to within a couple of weeks learn some basic details about a program that could cost more than $170bn and will run for decades.

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, this week warned against opting for a new UK design. For now though, the Aukus submarine program is a “black box”, says Tom Corben, a foreign policy and defence research fellow at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre.

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