Overview
- Pentagon and allied officials designated USS Colorado (SSN‑788) as the first U.S. Virginia‑class boat assigned to Submarine Rotational Force‑West to begin rotating from HMAS Stirling in 2027.
- The submarine arrived at HMAS Stirling on Tuesday to begin a scheduled, monthlong maintenance period that will be carried out with more than 30 certified Australian civilian technicians working alongside U.S. shipyard specialists.
- The visit will use newly installed Stirling upgrades such as a sail ‘racetrack,’ a pure water plant, a high‑pressure air compressor and dehumidifiers to validate the base’s ability to sustain nuclear‑powered attack submarines.
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has trained Australian maintainers and established a maintenance and logistics detachment to reduce pressure on U.S. shipyards and build Australia’s capacity to operate and regulate conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines.
- Officials stress SRF‑West will operate under existing force posture and non‑proliferation obligations, but domestic debate in Australia continues over costs and the decision to acquire in‑service Virginia‑class boats rather than new builds.