Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the demanding timeline set under the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine partnership, with Defence Minister Richard Marles emphasising that the nation is taking a “very self-critical” approach to tackling obstacles such as workforce capability and infrastructure readiness.
Speaking ahead of a high-level AUKUS defence ministers meeting in Washington, Marles acknowledged that although progress is being made, significant challenges still remain. “We are looking at this in a granular way,” he said, noting the scale of transformation required to build and maintain nuclear-powered submarines for the first time in Australia’s history.
His remarks follow a Pentagon review that highlighted several areas where the trilateral pact—between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom—can be strengthened. While the full findings have not been publicly released, U.S. officials said the review identified steps to put the agreement on the “strongest possible footing.”
Launched in 2021, AUKUS represents Australia’s largest defence undertaking to date. Under the plan, U.S.-commanded Virginia-class submarines will be stationed in Australia as early as 2027. Several additional Virginia-class subs are expected to be sold to Australia around 2030, while Australia and the UK will jointly develop a new AUKUS-class submarine—marking a generational leap in defence capability.
Defence ministers from all three nations are set to meet in Washington to explore how to accelerate the programme. According to sources familiar with the Pentagon review, key concerns include whether Australia can build its submarine base quickly enough and whether the U.S. can produce enough Virginia-class submarines for both its own fleet and Australia’s future needs.
Despite the scale of the task, Marles said Australia remains confident it will be ready to host four U.S. Virginia-class submarines at HMAS Stirling in Perth by the end of 2027. However, he acknowledged the “enormous uplift” needed—particularly in developing a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting construction, maintenance, and nuclear-industry-level precision.
Beyond workforce challenges, AUKUS partners must also strengthen supply chains and increase U.S. submarine production capacity—issues critical to keeping the pact on schedule.
In a world where security partnerships redefine global stability, Australia’s determination reflects more than strategy—it represents a nation preparing itself for the future with honesty, urgency, and ambition.
