Australia To Receive 3 Second-Hand U.S Nuclear Submarines Within 15 Years Under Streamlined AUKUS Deal

Australia will acquire 3 Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the U.S within 15 years, under the new and streamlined AUKUS Agreement.

Previously, Australia were to receive two used and one new submarine, but now all three will be in-service submarines of the U.S Navy.

U.S, Australia and Britain met at Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, which brought together top defence officials and experts from 45 nations and decided upon this.

When questioned why Australia would acquire used submarines from the U.S. Navy, Richard Marles, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, said that this measure would be much more cost-effective.

He also said that this is an expensive endeavour and the government is trying to find every cost-effective option as they go forward with the decision.

“I cannot overstate the significance of that, both in terms of the submariners who are operating them, but also the people who are working on them to sustain those submarines,” Marles added.

In a joint statement released on Saturday, Marles, U.S Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the UK Secretary for Defence John Healey confirmed the change to the AUSKUS deal as a welcome step to simplify supply chain management, operational and maintenance requirements and maximise cost efficiencies.

The U.S Navy has 24 Virginia-class submarines, but American shipyards are also unable to meet their own production requirements of manufacturing atleast two new ships annually.

Given this, critics have asked why the U.S. is selling three of its submarines to Australia while it struggles to meet the needs of its own navy first.

The AUKUS submarine programme is significant for Australia’s defence strategy and could cost up to US $235 billion over three decades.

Australia has a vast coastline and is strategically located in the Indo-Pacific. Currently, it possesses only diesel-electric submarines that are slower and have a shorter range, meaning they need to surface frequently to refuel and recharge their batteries.

AUKUS would allow it to have a nuclear-submarine fleet, as they travel faster and can remain submerged for longer periods, allowing them to patrol further into the region.

Their stealth, endurance and capability to accommodate advanced weapons and sensors allow them to serve as a massive strategic deterrent.