Australia to receive three US Virginia-class submarines

Australia will acquire three used, nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines from the United States instead of a mix of new and used vessels, officials announced over the weekend. The change to the AUKUS security pact was described by Australian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles as a cost-effective measure to simplify the complex program.

The announcement was made in a joint statement by Marles, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and British Defence Secretary John Healey during the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore. Under the revised plan, Australia will receive three in-service submarines from the U.S. Navy, all of the same production variant. The original 2021 AUKUS pathway had envisioned Australia acquiring two used submarines and one newly built vessel.

Marles told reporters the adjustment prioritizes simplicity in an incredibly complicated undertaking. He argued that the original plan would have required Australia to manage up to four different submarine classes simultaneously, including its existing Collins-class fleet, two types of Virginia-class boats, and a future submarine being developed with Britain, known as SSNAUKUS. Having...