ASPICanberra 57d ago

Speaking to Kieran Gilbert on Sky News Australia on 5 May, ASPI’s Director of Defence Strategy, Mike Hughes AIM, discussed the findings of ASPI's new report examining risks in the AUKUS Optimal Pathway and the role Japan could play in helping Australia avoid a potential future submarine capability gap. The conversation explored the key challenges across the optimal pathway, including the transfer of Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines from the United States, the Collins-class life-of-type extension and the construction of the SSN-AUKUS, and discussed the strength of Japan’s submarine program, highlighting Japan as one of the Indo-Pacific's most capable military powers.