Australia will receive only second-hand submarines under a newly announced approach to the AUKUS deal.<\/p>\n
AUKUS defence ministers have announced Australia will acquire three \u201cin-service\u201d Virginia-class submarines rather than a mix of new and used vessels.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement released following the AUKUS Defence Ministers\u2019 Meeting in Singapore, the defence leaders said they had agreed to a \u201cproposed approach\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia\u2019s acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS),\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and in-service VCS variants.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s total commitment to the AUKUS nuclear submarine program has been estimated to cost upward of $360 billion over the next three decades.<\/p>\n
The announcement came after a meeting between Defence Minister Richard Marles, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and British Defence Secretary John Healey.<\/p>\n
The ministers insisted AUKUS Pillar I \u2013 Australia\u2019s acquisition of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability \u2013 remained on track.<\/p>\n
The meeting also unveiled plans to developed unmanned undersea vehicles with delivery set for 2027.<\/p>\n