SUBMARINES being built under the AUKUS programme will be delivered on time, a Navy boss has said.

The UK is producing several attack submarines making up its part of a defence agreement alongside the US and Australia.

And a major UK naval figure, the First Sea Lord, has said he is confident AUKUS submarine will be delivered on time.

BAE-built Astute and Dreadnought submarines have seen high-profile delays.

Speaking to a naval news outlet, First Sea Lord Admiral Ben Key said: “I’m confident that the work is going on, the way that the choices are being rigorously examined and slowly downselected against the timeline that we need to meet will ensure that SSN AUKUS will arrive on time, delivering just the capabilities that we require and crewed by either a UK crew or [an] Australian crew or, very probably, a mixture of both because we will be so integrated by then that it will almost be a natural [extension] of what we’re doing."

BAE Systems was awarded a contract to build Australia's nuclear-powered submarines earlier this year as part of joint military programme between the Oceanic nation, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

At the time, BAE said it had increased its UK submarine workforce to 13,500 with plans to grow to around 17,000. 

The first UK submarines built to this design will be delivered in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute Class vessels, and the first Australian submarines will follow in the early 2040s.

The Governor of South Australia recently visited the shipyard in Barrow as part of a tour of the UK related to the AUKUS deal. 

Frances Adamson AC spoke at Australia House, the High Commission building in London, about opportunities in her state in 'education, training and employment' following her tour of the BAE Systems shipyard.

She also met the new Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle.

The MP for Liverpool Garston stressed the new Labour administration's commitment to AUKUS and her desire to work closely with Australia on defence capability and defence industry issues, officials said.