“Australia pledged A$4.6 billion to the UK to boost its submarine-building capacity and has transferred about A$0.5 billion to the UK Ministry of Defence.”

Media reportsNews reportApril 28, 2026Read the original

Background in coverage of AUKUS costs.

Our verdict

Mostly True

Australia committed about A$4.6bn in 2024 for UK submarine reactor and design work; we could not confirm how much has been paid to the MoD so far.

What we found

In March 2024 Australia agreed to put more than A$4.6 billion over 10 years into expanding Rolls-Royce's reactor plant in Derby and design costs. In February 2026 it said it had spent A$310 million on reactor parts. We found no independent record of a total transfer of about A$0.5 billion to the MoD.

The evidence

1 of 2 sources support the claim; none contradict it.

Contradict 0Support 1Background 1

Supports the claim
Australia gives the UK A$4.6bn to boost AUKUS submarine work. [1]
Background
Australia bought its first British reactor parts for A$310 million in February 2026. [2]

What we could not confirm

The total paid to the UK Ministry of Defence by April 2026.

How we checked

We checked the claim against AAP, The Defense Post. We reviewed 2 relevant sources.

Sources

[1]AAP · Australia gives UK $4.6b to boost AUKUS subs build
[2]The Defense Post · Australia AUKUS submarine reactor

Have evidence we missed?

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