United States to Provide Used Nuclear Submarines to Australia Under AUKUS Agreement
The United States will send used Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of a revised AUKUS defence arrangement, with the goal of streamlining capabilities and reducing costs.
The United States will only send used nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of an agreement to streamline the AUKUS defence deal. Defence Minister Richard Marles described the decision as cost-effective, saying it would save significant amounts of money and simplify fleet training and maintenance. According to France24, Australia will receive at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States within 15 years. Europesays.com reported that these submarines are part of a stopgap phase to boost the Royal Australian Navy’s capabilities until the first AUKUS-class nuclear-powered submarines begin arriving around 2042. Australia's Naval Support Activity Stirling supports AUKUS by enabling nuclear submarine rotations. The base is near key maritime routes and funded by Australian investment, including submarine acquisitions. Some analysts questioned whether used submarines would reduce Australia’s naval capabilities; others said the older fleet could be advantageous.
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