Australia Will Purchase 3 Second-Hand Nuclear-Powered Submarines Under Revised AUKUS Deal
Officials said the revised deal will simplify maintenance and supply chains and cut costs as Australia drops plans for a new boat.
- On Saturday, Australia and the United States announced a shift to the AUKUS deal, with Australia now acquiring three second-hand Virginia-class submarines instead of the previously planned mix of new and used vessels.
- Defence Minister Richard Marles described the trilateral agreement as "incredibly complicated" and defended the shift as simplifying supply-chain management, operational and maintenance requirements, and maximising cost efficiencies.
- Former senior defence official Michael Shoebridge criticized the decision, arguing the U.S. Navy reserves "newest and most capable submarines" for itself, leaving Australia with less capable vessels and shorter service lives.
- While Marles claimed the shift offers "significant" savings, Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson demanded a "proper explanation from government" regarding the implications of abandoning a new advanced submarine.
- The AUKUS submarine program remains Australia's largest defence project, estimated to cost between $268 billion and $368 billion over three decades as the nation aims to field nuclear-powered vessels within 15 years.
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Australia was initially expected to receive one out of three new gears. It had preferred the United States over France for its nuclear submarines.
U.S. to send only used nuclear submarines to Australia in amended defence deal
The two nations — together with the third partner in their security pact, Britain — met at Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue, which brings together top defence officials and experts from about 45 countries
Canberra expected to receive two used submarines and a new one, eventually it will be three units already in service from the U.S. Navy fleet. The government highlighted the "siplicity" of this solution.
Australia to Buy Only 2nd-Hand Virginia-Class Submarines Under AUKUS
Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia will save money and avoid complexity by only buying second-hand nuclear-powered submarines, a shift in the initial stopgap phase of the AUKUS plan. The federal government is now scheduled to buy three Virginia-class submarines already in service, instead of a mix of new and used U.S. vessels. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the trilateral agreement was “incredibly complicated” and any move to s…
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