The Royal Australian Navy faces the greatest challenge of the Australian Defense Force as it pursues a nuclear-powered submarine fleet, according to the nation’s latest defense blueprint. Building the new boats under the AUKUS agreement is central to Australia’s new strategy of denial to meet the increasingly aggressive threat from China. Australia’s shift from a balanced force that addressed low-level regional challenges to a force focused on long-range response to threats with little warning was necessary, Sir Angus Houston, the co-leader of the Defense Strategic Review, said Wednesday. “The strategic circumstances have been going down for a long time.” The … Continue reading Australian Navy Faces Major Hurdles in Building AUKUS Attack Boats, Says Defense Review