The Andrew Forrest-backed shipbuilder supports Australia’s acquisition of the submarines amid suggestions two US Navy vessels could initially be based in WA.
Leading defence shipbuilder Austal says the Morrison government made the right call when it axed a $90 billion French-designed submarine project and opted for a nuclear option that could result in US Navy submarines being based in Perth as an interim measure.
Mr Gregg, who spent 11 years of his career building nuclear submarines while at BAE Systems, said they were the best choice for Australia.“I think they are absolutely the right tool for the job for Australia based on just on how remote we are,” he said. The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessel is the 13th of its kind Austal has built for the US Navy but the first with autonomous capability. It has completed sea trials before the official handover.Mr Gregg said the ship, which can operate autonomously for up to 30 days, demonstrated the new technologies that would enable unmanned missions by the US Navy.
“The thought of being able to take people out of harm’s way in a conflict situation has to be a good thing,” he said. “Get these things out there looking and listening, scanning rather than having sailors looking for a needle in a haystack and maybe getting lucky. Deploy the sailors when you know exactly what you want them to do.”Mr Gregg said it would be interesting to see what role Australia eventually played in building its nuclear submarines, with the work supposed to support shipbuilding jobs in South Australia.
He said there was a strong possibility of a significant nuclear-powered submarine presence, whether they be from the US Navy or eventually Australian-built.
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