Australia to buy three second-hand US submarines under AUKUS shake-up
Australia has announced an agreement to buy three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States under a major shake-up of the AUKUS defence partnership. The deal aims to close a capability gap before 2032. The agreement is the largest defence acquisition in federal Australian budgetary history.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced an agreement to buy three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States as part of a major shake-up of the AUKUS submarine programme. The move aims to close potential capability-gap risks in Australian submarines before 2032. It is described as the largest single procurement in the federal 2025–26 defence budget.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said the deal is critical to 'completing the structural-security infrastructure on its scheduled timeline'. Opposition leader Sussan Ley emphasised that the submarine costs need to be discussed in parliament with 'full budgetary transparency'. US Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the sale is awaiting US Congressional approval.
Justin Bassi, director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), said the agreement 'strengthens Australia's structural position in Indo-Pacific security balances'. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning argued the purchase 'will deepen regional arms competition'. Australia's parliament will vote on the procurement's detailed budget within the next month. This article is sector analysis and not investment or defence-procurement advice.
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