Australia scales back planned upgrades to ageing submarine fleet
Australia's defence department said the planned upgrade of the existing Collins-class submarines will be scaled back amid cost overruns. The narrower package will run for the next three years. The decision shapes the gap period until the AUKUS submarine transition.
Australia's Department of Defence has scaled back the planned mid-life refit of its existing Collins-class submarines. According to ABC News, the previous cost estimate for the original upgrade had climbed to A$6 billion; the narrower package now has a budget of A$4.2 billion.
Under the slimmed-down scope, the submarines' command system and sonar suite will receive a partial modernisation instead of a full replacement. Priority will instead shift to structural life-extension work. The Australian Navy plans to roll out the programme across six submarines in sequence.
The decision will shape Australia's operational submarine capability through the gap period until US-supplied Virginia-class boats start arriving after 2032 under AUKUS. The opposition described the narrower package as an "urgent capability risk". The government said it is working with the United Kingdom and New Zealand on joint patrol arrangements to cover the gap.
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