Australia to buy three second-hand US submarines under AUKUS shift
Australia will buy three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States after a change to the AUKUS submarine plan, Defence Minister Richard Marles has said. The announcement was made at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where the three AUKUS partners said they would streamline the arrangement. Under the revised plan, Australia will no longer buy any new Virginia-class submarine.
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Mr Marles said the change would bring "significant" savings for Australia, although he said it would not fundamentally alter the overall cost of the programme. He said the earlier plan had raised the prospect of several submarine classes operating at the same time, which he described as complicated. The revised approach will see Australia acquire three submarines from the same production block, rather than the previously expected mix of used and new boats.
The shift marks a notable change from the 2021 AUKUS deal, under which Australia was expected to receive at least two used Virginia-class submarines and one new one. The new arrangement also comes alongside a separate "signature" project announced by the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom to develop weapons systems and sensors for underwater drones. Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson said the change "warrants a proper explanation from government" and said he would seek further detail at Senate estimates.
AUKUS is one of the most significant defence arrangements involving Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, and the submarine element has been central to its long-term military planning. The programme is intended to give Australia a nuclear-powered submarine capability, but it has also been described by Mr Marles as "incredibly complicated". The latest change suggests the partners are trying to simplify delivery while keeping the broader project on track.
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The announcement also highlights the practical and political pressures around the submarine plan, which has been closely watched in Australia and among its allies. Buying only second-hand submarines may reduce some complexity in the transition, but it also raises questions about timing, capability and the shape of the fleet Australia will eventually operate. The government has said the savings will be significant, but Mr Marles said they would not dramatically change the total cost.
What remains unclear is how the revised purchase schedule will affect delivery dates, the wider AUKUS timetable and the transition from Australia's existing Collins-class submarines. Further detail is likely to emerge as officials explain the change and as parliamentary scrutiny continues. The key issue now is whether the streamlined plan can deliver the promised capability with fewer moving parts and less risk.
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