Australia will receive three second-hand submarines under newly-announced approach to AUKUS

Australia will receive only second-hand submarines under a newly announced approach to the AUKUS deal.

AUKUS defence ministers have announced Australia will acquire three “in-service” Virginia-class submarines rather than a mix of new and used vessels.

In a joint statement released following the AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore, the defence leaders said they had agreed to a “proposed approach”.

“The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia’s acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS),” they said.

“This approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and in-service VCS variants.”

The shift means Australia will receive only second-hand submarines under the first phase of AUKUS, rather than a previously anticipated mix of new-build and used vessels.

Defence Minister Richard Marles also acknowledged the investment of up to AUD $8 billion for infrastructure and logistics support at HMAS Stirling for the submarines.

Australia’s total commitment to the AUKUS nuclear submarine program has been estimated to cost upward of $360 billion over the next three decades.

The announcement came after a meeting between Defence Minister Richard Marles, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and British Defence Secretary John Healey.

The ministers insisted AUKUS Pillar I – Australia’s acquisition of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability – remained on track.

The meeting also unveiled plans to developed unmanned undersea vehicles with delivery set for 2027.

Formed by the three countries in 2021, AUKUS forms part of efforts to push back against China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region.

China has called the AUKUS pact dangerous and warned it could spur a regional arms race.

AUKUS said in their joint statement that delivery of the autonomous underwater drones vehicles will start in 2027.

The programme comes under AUKUS’s so-called “Pillar Two” to develop advanced defence technology including quantum computing, undersea, hypersonic, artificial intelligence and cyber technology.