Program: How a US defence spending slow-down could affect AUKUS

With the US Defence budget just one per cent higher than last year, defence spending has drastically slowed down.   

That means the US Navy is expected to order just one Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine in the next fiscal year, instead of two.  

That's not good news for Australia which, under the AUKUS security deal, is expected to receive three second-hand Virginia-class submarines throughout the next decade. So will these boats arrive in time? 

GUEST: 
Mick Ryan, retired Major General in the Australian Army 

PRODUCER: 
Eleni Psaltis