Defence Minister Richard Marles warns on 'vast and complex' AUKUS challenges

Defence Minister Richard Marles has warned today the full potential of the AUKUS agreement can only be fulfilled with a "seamless" exchange of technology and information between Australia and the US.

Australia will spend up to $368 billion by 2055 to build a new fleet of eight nuclear-propelled submarines in Adelaide to enter service in the 2040s under the landmark defence pact signed by Australia, the US and Britain.

But a secondary part of AUKUS also calls for cooperation on other defence technologies, such as undersea warfare, hypersonic weapons and artificial intelligence.

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In a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Adelaide today, Marles said the government is "focused on developing asymmetric technologies that will help deter future conflicts".

But the exchange of technologies between the US and Australia faced "vast and complex" barriers, such as US export controls, he said.

"What is really clear is that if we are to realise the ambition of AUKUS, the transfer of technology and information between Australia and the US needs to be seamless," he said.

"This is a big task – the barriers in both systems are vast and complex. There is no silver bullet."

Marles said Australian defence officials had held talks with their US counterparts about the issue of export controls on military technology.

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The recent Defence Strategic Review called for the government to invest in new and innovative technologies for the Australian Defence Force.

Priorities are hypersonic missiles, directed energy, autonomous systems, quantum technology, information warfare and long-range firepower.

In March, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met in San Diego as they hailed an 18-month-old nuclear partnership that enables Australia to access nuclear-powered submarines, which are stealthier and more capable than conventionally-powered vessels.

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