<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/aukus" rel="" target="_blank" title="AUKUS nuclear submarines deal"><span>AUKUS nuclear submarines deal</span></a><span> - Australia's most expensive defence project - is facing major hurdles, a report by British MPs warns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the defence pact, estimated to cost more than $360 billion in coming decades. - the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-chief-of-army-chief-of-navy-named-by-prime-minister-anthony-albanese/4ff5f944-245e-4008-a9c2-7a8c96d01ca4" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian navy"><span>Australian navy</span></a><span> would acquire eight nuclear-propelled (but not armed) submarines from the US and UK.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But in a report published overnight, the UK House of Commons Defence Committee warned that the British government needs to inject more money and political impetus for AUKUS to become a reality.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-shooting-iran-live-updates-us-politics-april-28-king-charles/b8458881-ea3b-4a8c-b1a8-23b686b4bdce" target="_blank"><strong><span>US warns the world as Iranian airlines take to the skies</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have deep concerns cracks are already beginning to show when it comes to funding. The investment pipeline has already faltered," said its chair, Tan Dhesi MP.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia signed up to AUKUS in 2021 to counter </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="_blank" title="rising Chinese powe"><span>rising Chinese powe</span></a><span>r in the Asia Pacific.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former Coalition government and current Albanese government said the long range and ability to remain hidden underwater for months of nuclear submarines would help maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/aukus-nuclear-submarines-deal-in-jeopardy-warn-british-mps/b6d000ea-7fb7-4279-bf56-90a703b1982a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under part of the agreement, Australia and Britain are collaborating to develop and construct a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, known as SSN-AUKUS.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the Royal Australian Navy's plan to take delivery of five vessels by the early 2040s, built in South Australia, faces major hurdles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For the UK, delivering SSN-AUKUS will be a lengthy and complex undertaking requiring a sustained financial commitment from government across several electoral cycles," the report said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/young-girl-sharon-missing-in-alice-springs/e63b0cbf-2b1c-48e1-9c2f-1e3dd581e5cb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Drones, helicopters deployed as search for five-year-old ramps up</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alarm bells have also been sounded on the plan by the US Navy to sell Australia up to five of its Virginia-class nuclear submarines by 2035.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Faltering production rates at US shipyards were a "a matter of concern", and "a potential risk" to the deal, the House of Commons report said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian taxpayers have so far given a combined $10 billion to the US and Britain to bolster their shipbuilding industries as part of AUKUS.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The final cost for Australia has been estimated at about $368 billion by the mid-2050s.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>