Revision of AUKUS: U.S. Will Sell 3 In-service Virginia Subs to Australia

06 Juni 2026

U.S. will sell 3 in-service Virginia Class Submarine (VCS) to Australia Instead of 1 New, 2 In-service (photo: US Navy)

Joint Statement, AUKUS Defense Ministers' Meeting

Today the Honorable Richard Marles MP, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, the Honorable Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War, and the Right Honorable John Healey MP, UK Secretary of State for Defense, met at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore and re-affirmed their commitment to delivering the AUKUS partnership.

Pillar I – Conventionally-Armed, Nuclear-Powered Submarines

Through discussions today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries confirmed that AUKUS Pillar I remains on track to support Australia's acquisition of a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries confirmed key milestones continue to be met for Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) and announced the finalization of necessary arrangements for the establishment of SRF-West in 2027. SRF-West will directly support submarine deployments by expanding maintenance options and sustainment infrastructure in the region and will accelerate Australia's readiness to own, operate, maintain, and regulate a sovereign conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability. Just this month, the United States authorized establishment of the U.S. Navy support elements for SRF-West and will begin rotating the first U.S. Navy personnel to HMAS Stirling later this year. Likewise, the United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to have a rotational presence as part of SRF-West and noted the successful Submarine Maintenance Period conducted earlier this year by HMS ANSON.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries acknowledged Australia's planned investments of up to AUD 8 billion at SRF-West for infrastructure and logistics support at HMAS Stirling, along with Australia's initial down payments of AUD 3.9 billion to deliver the new Submarine Construction Yard in South Australia and AUD 12 billion for the Henderson Defense Precinct—including to support the delivery of contingency docking and depot level maintenance capabilities.

Virginia Class Submarine (infographic: The Jakarta Post)

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia's acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS), simplifying supply chain management, operational and maintenance requirements, and maximizing cost efficiencies. This approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and in-service VCS variants.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries acknowledged significant progress in the design and delivery of SSN-AUKUS, which will provide the UK and Australia with an advanced warfighting capability. This progress has been underpinned by investments from both the UK and Australia, including GBP 6 billion that the UK committed in 2025.

Pillar II – Advanced Capabilities

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries reaffirmed the critical importance of accelerating the delivery of advanced capabilities under AUKUS Pillar II.  They announced the first AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project: developing cutting-edge payloads and enabling systems for AUKUS partners' Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), with delivery starting in 2027. This project is intended to significantly enhance AUKUS partners' ability to protect critical national seabed infrastructure; deploy cutting edge surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities; conduct logistics operations; and bolster superiority in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, mine countermeasures, electronic warfare, and contested littoral maneuver.

     

Defense Trade and Industrial Base Collaboration

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries confirmed their support for expanding the breadth of the AUKUS license-free environment between AUKUS partners by taking expeditious and practical steps to narrow the list of excluded technologies. The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries also reaffirmed the value of the Advanced Capabilities Industry Forum and deepening collaboration across the trilateral defense industrial base. 

(US DoW)