This marks a strategic shift with industrial and geopolitical significance.
Beyond Transfer: Toward Sovereign Build Capability
Under the AUKUS agreement, Australia is set to acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines from the United States, with deliveries beginning in the early 2030s. But recent statements by U.S. officials and senators suggest a growing appetite for something more: enabling Australia to build Virginia-class submarines on home soil.
This is no small undertaking. It would speed up the requirements for the establishment of new nuclear-certified facilities, a sustained training pipeline for Australian shipbuilders, and unprecedented integration between allied defense industries. Yet it’s achievable—and vital.
Accelerating a sovereign industrial base capable of constructing nuclear-powered submarines sends a clear signal: Australia is not just a buyer, but a builder of collective deterrence.
With nearly a third of U.S. attack submarines in maintenance at any given time, additional capacity in Australia benefits both nations. It also ensures that Australia’s future fleet remains integrated, sustained, and deployable alongside its AUKUS partners.
Economic Impact and Industrial Transformation
Constructing and maintaining Virginia-class submarines will drive significant investment in local industry. Welders, machinists, nuclear engineers, logistics managers, and advanced manufacturers will all be needed—many of them trained through newly created workforce pipelines.
This is about delivering jobs, building skills, and expanding regional economies. For Australia, it’s a nation-building moment. For the alliance, it’s a commitment to industrial integration that enhances strategic readiness.
AUKUS as a Capabilities Accelerator
The AUKUS Forum is supporting this momentum through the AUKUS Connect program—bringing SMEs, researchers, and supply chain partners into the fold. We’re helping ensure that the capability uplift tied to Virginia-class submarines is matched by an industrial uplift across the alliance.
The Virginia class isn’t just a platform—it’s a catalyst. And through AUKUS, we have the tools, talent, and trust to deliver it together.
The future of undersea deterrence is being built now—and it runs through Australia.
Source: AUKUS Forum.
