The Albanese Government is investing up to 8 billion Australian dollars to expand HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. The government said the investment will create around 3,000 direct Australian jobs.
As part of the process, the U.S. Navy has announced it will begin support activities at HMAS Stirling in cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom. U.S. personnel are expected to begin rotating to HMAS Stirling later this year.
The U.S. Navy will reestablish Submarine Squadron 3 to oversee the operation of U.S. nuclear-powered submarines rotating from HMAS Stirling in support of SRF-West. The squadron will work alongside Australian and UK personnel to lay the groundwork for Australia’s own maintenance, logistics and operational support of its sovereign controlled and operated nuclear-powered submarines.
A Lead Maintenance Activity will also be established in Western Australia from mid-2026. It will support maintenance of U.S. submarines assigned to SRF-West and provide continuing training to Australia’s workforce.
Naval Support Activity Stirling will also be established and is expected to grow in the coming months. It will provide support services and programmes for U.S. personnel, contractors and their families rotating as part of SRF-West.
The government said U.S. force posture cooperation in Australia, including SRF-West, takes place under the Force Posture Agreement. It said access to and use of Australian facilities and areas is rotational, mutually determined and at Australia’s invitation, with full respect for Australian sovereignty.
Defence and the Australian Submarine Agency will work with the United States to help U.S. personnel integrate into the Western Australian community. The government said this work is intended to minimise impacts on housing, transport and healthcare.
SRF-West is intended to significantly develop Australia’s ability to operate, maintain and safely steward future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The government said deploying Australian Navy personnel on visiting UK and U.S. submarines will provide valuable at-sea experience with naval nuclear propulsion.
The government said SRF-West will also strengthen the skills, systems and supply chains needed to build and maintain Australian submarines. The effort builds on work already underway in the United States.
More than 200 Royal Australian Navy personnel are in the United States for training and postings focused on safe operations and qualification on nuclear-powered submarines. In addition, more than 220 Australian industry personnel are now at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, building experience needed to sustain Virginia-class submarines.
Since December 2025, more than 10 of those industry workers have returned to Australia. The government said they are now applying their skills in Australia.
“The Albanese Government welcomes this announcement from the United States which demonstrates that AUKUS is on track and it is happening now,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said.
“AUKUS is delivering a generational investment in the Western Australian economy, one that will support thousands of jobs for decades to come,” Marles said.
“SRF-West will directly support submarine deployments by expanding maintenance options and sustainment infrastructure and achieve Australia’s ability to own, operate, maintain and sustain our own conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability,” Marles said.
