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7h ago

Australia Commits A$12 Billion to WA Shipyard for AUKUS Submarine Sustainment

The move signals Canberra's bid to lock in AUKUS by building local sustainment for planned Virginia-class deliveries.

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Richard Marles, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, speaks during an announcement at the Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Kuttabul, in Sydney, Australia, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo
Australia aims to acquire at least three US Virginia-class submarines within 15 years and eventually to manufacture its own subs

Overview

  • The funding is a downpayment on a roughly A$25 billion, decade-long upgrade of the Henderson Defence Precinct, including graving docks for nuclear-powered submarines.
  • Defence Minister Richard Marles said the United States would be able to use the facility's dry docks, positioning Perth as an allied maintenance hub.
  • The precinct will construct ADF surface vessels starting with Army landing craft and is expected to support future general-purpose frigates.
  • The government projects more than 10,000 local jobs as early works and detailed planning progress at the site near HMAS Stirling.
  • The announcement comes as the Pentagon reviews AUKUS, with the Washington Post reporting that Marco Rubio privately assured Marles that Virginia-class deliveries remain on track.