Major Aukus switch to buy only secondhand subs from US means 'significant' cost savings, Marles says
Source: The Guardian
Major Aukus switch to buy only secondhand subs from US means ‘significant’ cost savings, Marles says
Defence minister says ‘cost-effective’ decision to buy only secondhand Virginia nuclear-powered submarines will make training and operations easier
Tom McIlroy and Ben Doherty
Sun 31 May 2026 04.39 BST
Last modified on Sun 31 May 2026 04.40 BST
Australia expects to make significant cost savings by buying a third secondhand American nuclear submarine for the Aukus program, instead of at least one brand new model.
The defence minister, Richard Marles, on Sunday described the decision not to buy any new Virginia-class boats as placing “a premium on simplicity”.
But Marles conceded there would be no “fundamental” shift in the cost of the multi-decade deal, estimated to be worth at least $370bn.
The government had expected to buy one new and two secondhand Virginia-class submarines. But Marles said on Sunday the decision to go with three “in-service” submarines would make training and operations easier and cheaper for Australian crews onboard from the early 2030s.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/may/31/aukus-australia-to-buy-only-secondhand-virginia-class-submarines-from-us-significant-cost-savings-richard-marles