Late US Submarine Delivery Shows Pitfalls for Partnership With Australia
- The US Navy cites ‘material issues and testing delays’
- Australia’s Albanese visits as House panel holds hearing
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The US Navy has accepted its newest attack submarine, but the USS Hyman G. Rickover was nine months past its due date, underscoring production pitfalls that could undermine the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the UK and the US.
Program documents had predicted a February acceptance date but that milestone wasn’t reached until Oct. 8. The next nuclear-powered Virginia-class sub, the USS New Jersey, was supposed to be delivered last month but the Navy now says it will be delivered by year’s end.