Overview

• U.S. officials reported that the Pentagon review led by Undersecretary Elbridge Colby leaves the pact broadly unchanged, with AUKUS described as safe.
• Current planning preserves the transfer of 3–5 Virginia-class submarines from the early 2030s and a follow-on SSN-AUKUS program built to the Royal Navy design, with Australian boats produced in Adelaide and reactors from Rolls-Royce in Derby.
• Capacity strains persist as U.S. submarine production lags; incoming CNO Admiral Daryl Caudle says output must double to meet both American and AUKUS needs, fueling skepticism about spare Virginias.
• An Australian parliamentary inquiry into the UK–Australia Geelong treaty heard warnings from retired rear admiral Peter Briggs about risks to sovereign industry, while the Submarine Agency signaled confidence in the pathway and industry called for faster visa clearances.
• Australia has reaffirmed A$1.6 billion for 2025–26 and made a US$525 million payment in July 2025, as experts warn nuclear-waste facilities and long-term disposal plans will be costly and challenging.