U.S. Commits to Sale of 3 In-Service Virginia Nuclear Subs to Australia

The U.S. has committed to selling Australia three in-service Virginia-class nuclear submarines while pivoting from the planned acquisition of one new and two in-service Virginias as part the multi-billion-dollar AUKUS submarine deal.

Australia plans to acquire a fleet of cutting-edge, fast attack nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS, a multi-decade defence pact with Britain and the United States.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey announced the revision to the AUKUS acquisition plan during the a recent AUKUS Defense Ministers Meeting held on the sidelines of the International Institute of Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

“The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia’s acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS), simplifying supply chain management, operational and maintenance requirements and maximizing cost efficiencies. This approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and