Australia has been in talks since late 2022 to acquire three pre-owned Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the United States, with the vessels expected to provide more than 25 years of service, according to defence industry minister Pat Conroy. He rejected criticism of the AUKUS security agreement from fellow Labor member Ed Husic, describing it as disingenuous. Conroy explained that the US military initially proposed a mix of new and used submarines starting early next decade to align with its production capacity. Improved maintenance data has allowed greater confidence in supplying a third in-service vessel, which would lower costs for purchase, upkeep and operation. The first Virginia-class submarine is scheduled to reach Australia in 2032, followed by others at four-year intervals, ahead of the locally built SSN-AUKUS model entering service in 2042. The transferred boats will have completed roughly five years of duty and their initial major overhaul. With an approximate 33-year lifespan, they are projected to deliver 26 or 27 years of operational capability. The announcement by defence minister Richard Marles at the Shangri-La Dialogue has drawn fresh scrutiny. Husic urged reconsideration and contingency planning during a Labor caucus meeting, noting the shift from the original plan of two used and one new submarine. Conroy maintained that Husic’s call for another party vote on the $368 billion project was misplaced, as the Virginia-class option was not part of earlier discussions when Labor was in opposition. He acknowledged internal party opposition yet affirmed continued backing, including from the left faction. A Pentagon statement indicated the revised approach would simplify training, maintenance and logistics while reducing expenses. However, Congress may need to adjust legislation, which currently authorises up to three transfers under specific acts. A congressional budget analysis outlines deliveries in 2032, 2035 and 2038. Greens defence spokesperson David Shoebridge dismissed the rationale as spin and highlighted the absence of binding guarantees for any submarines.
