Breaking News: Australia Remains Firmly Bound to U.S. by AUKUS Submarine Pact Amid Rising China Threat.

According to information published by the Australian Defence Connect website on May 9, 2025, while questions are emerging about the long-term reliability of the United States as a defense partner, Australia remains deeply anchored in its strategic partnership with both the U.S. and the United Kingdom under the AUKUS agreement. As geopolitical tensions escalate across the Indo-Pacific, Canberra is accelerating its most ambitious military-industrial transformation in decades — investing billions in U.S. shipbuilding, acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, and preparing to construct its own advanced undersea fleet at home.
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Australia and the United States deepen their strategic partnership through the AUKUS submarine program, reinforcing regional deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. (Picture source: Wikimedia and editing Army Recognition Group)

Australia’s commitment to U.S./UK AUKUS submarine program reflects both strategic necessity and pragmatic foresight. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) currently operates six Collins-class diesel-electric submarines, introduced between 1996 and 2003. These submarines, although upgraded, are nearing obsolescence. Their limited endurance, the need to surface regularly, and reduced survivability in high-threat environments underscore the urgency to transition toward nuclear-powered platforms that offer stealth, persistence, and long-range strike capabilities.

Geography further drives this need. As an island continent surrounded by vast maritime domains, Australia relies on secure sea lanes for trade and security. The increasing militarization of the South China Sea, the strategic activities of Chinese and Russian submarines, and gray-zone coercion by state actors present mounting threats. In this environment, submarines act as force multipliers — providing a stealthy deterrent, delivering precision strike options, and gathering critical intelligence in contested areas. For Australia, a potent and survivable undersea force is essential to maintaining national sovereignty and regional stability.

This strategic context is central to the AUKUS agreement, signed in 2021, which commits Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom to closer defense collaboration, especially in advanced military technologies. The centerpiece of AUKUS is the submarine initiative, which will see Australia operate a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for the first time. These submarines will not be armed with nuclear weapons, but their propulsion systems allow for unmatched endurance and tactical advantages.

Australia’s submarine acquisition strategy unfolds in two phases. The first involves the purchase of at least three U.S. Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the early 2030s. There is an option to acquire two additional boats depending on evolving operational requirements and U.S. production capacity. These submarines are among the world’s most advanced, equipped with sophisticated sonar systems, vertical launch systems for Tomahawk cruise missiles, and the ability to support special operations forces. Their acquisition is intended to fill the capability gap left by the retirement of the Collins-class boats.

To secure this procurement and assist a strained U.S. defense industrial base, Australia has committed $3 billion to American shipbuilding. This funding will support infrastructure upgrades, workforce expansion, and supply chain resilience at U.S. shipyards such as General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries. This investment reflects not only Australia’s financial stake in the deal, but also its dependence on the timely delivery of American submarines.

Simultaneously, the second — and longer-term — pillar of the plan centers on developing Australia’s own sovereign nuclear submarine construction capacity through the SSN-AUKUS program. This new class of submarines will be based on the U.K.’s forthcoming SSN(R) design and will incorporate American combat systems, sensors, and propulsion technologies. Construction is expected to begin at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia in the late 2030s, with the first submarine delivered in the early 2040s. At least five SSN-AUKUS submarines are planned, with new boats scheduled every three years. This endeavor is projected to create over 20,000 jobs and mark Australia’s entrance into an elite group of nations capable of building and sustaining nuclear-powered vessels.

The SSN-AUKUS submarine, also referred to as SSN-A, represents the cutting edge of undersea warfare. Displacing over 10,000 tonnes, it will be one of the largest and most advanced nuclear attack submarines in the world. It will be armed with U.S.-built vertical launch systems (VLS) capable of deploying Tomahawk cruise missiles, giving the RAN long-range land and maritime strike capabilities previously unavailable. In addition to its firepower, the submarine will integrate next-generation sonar suites, combat management systems, and electronic warfare tools, making it exceptionally capable in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It will also support special forces deployment and the use of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for ISR and mine warfare. Powered by a state-of-the-art nuclear reactor, the SSN-AUKUS will have near-unlimited submerged endurance, operating silently for months without surfacing — a decisive advantage in contested waters.

In the interim, to maintain strategic presence and accelerate operational readiness, the United States will deploy a “Submarine Rotational Force – West” to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia beginning in 2027. This initiative will see Virginia-class submarines regularly rotating through the base, providing Australian personnel with real-world training alongside U.S. crews and enabling seamless integration of future submarine capabilities. It also enhances forward U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific and signals a strong allied posture to potential adversaries.

Despite these bold initiatives, the AUKUS submarine plan is not without challenges. U.S. submarine production currently lags behind required targets, and political uncertainty in Washington — including potential trade disputes and defense budget constraints — threatens to delay the Virginia-class deliveries. Furthermore, the timeline for SSN-AUKUS production is ambitious, requiring long-term policy stability, sustained funding, and close trilateral cooperation.

Still, senior Australian officials remain confident in the course. Former Defence Department Secretary Dennis Richardson emphasized that scrapping the AUKUS deal would leave Australia without a credible deterrent in the 2030s and 2040s, undermining its sovereignty at a time of regional flux. He described the agreement not merely as a procurement plan, but as a strategic necessity.

Australia’s unwavering commitment to the U.S./UK AUKUS agreement and its nuclear-powered submarine strategy represents a transformational shift in its defense posture. Faced with aging assets, regional instability, and a rapidly evolving threat landscape, Canberra is betting on undersea dominance as a cornerstone of national security. Through investment, partnership, and sovereign development, Australia is preparing to emerge as a key undersea power in the Indo-Pacific — one that is no longer merely buying submarines, but building the future of its defense autonomy.