Australia Extends Collins Class Support To Maintain Submarine Capability Until AUKUS Fleet Arrival.

According to information published by BAE Systems on August 8, 2025, Canberra has awarded two major contract extensions to secure the long-term sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarine sonar and periscope systems well into the 2030s. Thales Australia has received a five-year, 178 million USD extension to continue maintenance and capability upgrades for the submarines’ sonar systems, while BAE Systems Australia has secured a parallel five-year, 89 million USD extension for comprehensive in-service support of their periscope systems. These contracts form a key element of Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan, ensuring both operational readiness and the preservation of sovereign maritime industrial capacity.
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Diesel electric Collins Class submarine with advanced sonar stealth design and armed with Mk 48 torpedoes Sub Harpoon missiles and naval mines capable of long range patrols and covert operations (Picture source : Australian Minister of Defence)

BAE Systems Australia will deliver full-spectrum maintenance, logistics, engineering services, and program management for the 16 periscope systems deployed across the Navy’s six Collins Class submarines. Work will be carried out at the company’s Mawson Lakes facility in South Australia and at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Thales Australia will sustain the advanced Scylla Sonar Suite, which incorporates passive and active sonar arrays, inboard signal processing systems, and a sovereign-designed towed array sonar. The scope includes scheduled maintenance, operational support, engineering assistance, obsolescence management, capability upgrades, and manufacture and repair of towed arrays. These measures will maintain the Collins Class at the forefront of underwater detection and tracking, reinforcing Australia’s strategic submarine capability in a region of increasing maritime competition.

The Collins Class is a conventionally powered diesel-electric submarine with a submerged displacement of approximately 3,400 tons and a length of 77.8 meters. It is powered by three Hedemora V18 diesel engines driving a Jeumont-Schneider electric motor, enabling a top submerged speed of around 20 knots. Its operational range exceeds 11,000 nautical miles at 10 knots on the surface, with a patrol endurance of up to 70 days, making it well-suited for the vast maritime approaches of Australia. The class is designed for low acoustic signatures through anechoic tile coatings, raft-mounted machinery, and advanced noise isolation, granting it a high degree of stealth in both littoral and deep-water operations.

Each submarine is equipped with six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of deploying a diverse payload of up to 22 weapons. The standard loadout includes Mk 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) heavyweight torpedoes, which feature advanced broadband sonar homing, digital signal processing, and improved counter-countermeasure resistance, enabling them to engage both fast, deep-diving submarines and surface combatants at ranges exceeding 40 kilometers. The submarines are also capable of firing UGM-84C Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles, providing a stand-off strike capability against high-value maritime targets at distances beyond 120 kilometers. The Collins Class can additionally be configured for mine-laying operations, deploying up to 44 influence or contact mines in place of torpedoes to deny adversaries access to strategic waterways.

From an operational standpoint, this combination of armaments allows the Collins Class to perform a wide spectrum of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, sea denial, covert intelligence collection, and special forces insertion. The integration of advanced sonar arrays with modern combat management systems enables rapid detection, classification, and engagement of threats in complex acoustic environments. The stealth characteristics, coupled with long-range sensors and weapons, give the Royal Australian Navy a potent undersea platform capable of operating undetected in contested regions while projecting power far from Australia’s shores.

While the Collins Class remains one of the most capable conventional submarine designs in service, it will eventually be replaced under the AUKUS program by nuclear-powered attack submarines based on British and American designs. These future boats will offer virtually unlimited range and endurance, with the ability to remain submerged for months rather than weeks, eliminating the need for regular snorkeling to recharge batteries. They will be faster, quieter at sustained high speeds, and capable of carrying larger payloads including more advanced torpedoes, long-range land-attack cruise missiles, and potentially hypersonic weapons. In contrast, the Collins Class excels in stealth at lower speeds and is optimized for covert patrols in regional waters, making it ideal for current operational needs. The transition to nuclear-powered submarines will significantly expand Australia’s undersea reach and persistence, enabling sustained operations deep into the Indo-Pacific, but until these vessels are delivered in the early 2030s, the Collins Class will remain the backbone of the nation’s submarine capability.

However, the delivery timeline for AUKUS submarines is not guaranteed. Production capacity in the United States and the United Kingdom is already stretched by their own fleet requirements, and political or budgetary pressures in either partner country could delay or limit deliveries to Australia. Any shift in strategic priorities, industrial bottlenecks, or technology transfer constraints could push the program beyond its planned schedule. In such a scenario, Australia may be compelled to explore alternative suppliers or interim solutions, potentially turning to proven designs from other allied nations to ensure it does not face a capability gap in the critical domain of undersea warfare.

These contract extensions are particularly significant in the current Indo-Pacific strategic environment. The region is witnessing rapid naval expansion, with multiple powers increasing submarine patrols, surface combatant deployments, and anti-submarine capabilities. China’s growing blue-water fleet and expanding footprint in the South China Sea, combined with heightened tensions over sea lanes and island territories, have underscored the importance of a credible undersea deterrent. For Australia, sustaining the Collins Class at peak readiness bridges the capability gap until the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership in the early 2030s. Maintaining sovereign maintenance and upgrade capacity through Thales, BAE Systems, and ASC ensures that Australia retains independent control over its submarine fleet’s operational availability while sustaining highly skilled jobs in South and Western Australia.

By extending these contracts, the Australian government is not only preserving the combat effectiveness of the Collins Class but also signaling its intent to remain a capable and independent maritime power. This dual focus on capability and sovereign industry guarantees that the Royal Australian Navy will continue to deploy one of the most effective diesel-electric submarine forces in the Southern Hemisphere, prepared to respond decisively to emerging challenges across the Indo-Pacific.