By Lu Tao and Li Zhe
Recently, the Australian government announced plans to initially invest 12 billion AUD (approximately 8 billion USD) to upgrade and transform the Henderson Shipyard, located south of Perth on the country's west coast, into a comprehensive defense zone. This defense zone will primarily handle tasks such as nuclear submarine maintenance and surface warship construction. The project is set to span 20 years, with total investment potentially rising to 25 billion AUD in the future. Analysts point out that the establishment of this significant military facility reflects multiple strategic motives behind Australia's move, which will have complex implications for the Asia-Pacific Regional Security.
In September 2021, the US, the UK, and Australia announced the formation of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership and the launch of cooperationon nuclear submarines. According to the plan, the US will sell three Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines to Australia in the early 2030s and possibly two more thereafter. Subsequently, the three countries will collaborate to develop a new type of attack nuclear submarine, which will be constructed at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in southern Australia. To expedite the implementation of the AUKUS nuclear submarine project, Australia has sent military personnel multiple times since 2023 to the US and the UK naval bases or to accompany submarines at sea, in order to learn skills in nuclear submarine maintenance, support, and operation. The upgrade of the Henderson Shipyard is specifically aimed at building enough dry-dock facilities for nuclear submarines and supporting infrastructure to provide base-level maintenance capabilities for Australia's future nuclear submarines, ensuring the readiness of facilities for the full lifecycle maintenance of these vessels.
Another consideration behind Australia's investment in this new defense zone is the modernization of its naval fleet. In February. 2024, the Australian government unveiled a 10-year naval restructuring plan, which aims to increase the number of major surface combatant ships in the Navy from the current 11 to 26. According to the Australian government's 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan , released in December 2024, the upgraded Henderson Shipyard will play a critical role in Australia's future shipbuilding, specifically in the construction of multi-role frigates and large surface unmanned vessels. In August, 2025, Australia officially selected Japan's Mogami-class frigate as its model for the multi-role frigate. The first three ships will be built in Japan, while the remaining eight will all be constructed at Henderson Shipyard. It is clear that the new defense zone will play a significant role in strengthening Australia's maritime combat capabilities and domestic shipbuilding capacity.
A deeper strategic intention of Australia is to establish a forward base for the US military. According to the AUKUS agreement, four US Virginia-class attack submarines and one UK Astute-class attack submarine will begin rotating deployments at HMAS Stirling starting in 2027. The Henderson defense zone will be constructed and utilized in parallel, and is located just about 10 kilometers away from HMAS Stirling. This proximity will not only ease the pressure on HMAS Stirling in servicing allied vessels but also provide critical emergency resupply and maintenance capabilities for US nuclear submarines. In the long run, once the new defense zone is completed, US nuclear submarines will gain an important strategic forward base in the Indian Ocean, enabling them to maintain long-duration patrols and routinely monitor regional maritime strategic shipping routes, which will further solidify the military presence of the US in the Indo-Pacific.
Analysts believe that while the Australian government's initiation of this large-scale and long-term defense facility construction may appear to be aimed at enhancing Australia's own defense capabilities, it is, in fact, closely aligned with the US push to implement its Indo-Pacific Strategy. However, this move not only places Australia in an increasingly precarious position but also poses a significant challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, which has been built on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Additionally, it adds complexity to the security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, potentially leading to severe negative consequences for regional security.
It is worth noting that the Australian government's announced Henderson defense zone investment plan is a temporary additional expenditure and was not included in the previously published 2025–2026 defense budget. In this context, whether the Australian government can ensure continued funding for the Henderson defense zone remains uncertain. Moreover, the shortage of skilled technical personnel capable of meeting the requirements for nuclear submarine maintenance and advanced shipbuilding in Australia could hinder the future construction and operational capabilities of the defense zone.
(The author is from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences)