Australia will purchase 3 second-hand nuclear-powered submarines under revised AUKUS deal

Was expected to receive two used, one new Virginia-class submarine under original deal inked in 2021

All three of the nuclear-powered submarines Australia will receive under the AUKUS military deal will be second-hand, Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Sunday, touting the "significant" savings under the revised deal.

Under the original deal inked in 2021, Australia was expected to receive at least two used and one new Virginia-class submarine, public outlet the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

AUKUS represents the biggest leap in Australia's military capability in more than a century and we are delivering it alongside our close partners — the United States and the United Kingdom.

Great to meet with Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Healey in Singapore for our AUKUS… pic.twitter.com/elpf42kffC

— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) May 30, 2026

Marles, however, told reporters that under the revised deal, Australia will now purchase only second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States.

The joint US-UK-Australia statement described the change as a mutual streamlining "simplifying supply-chain management, operational and maintenance requirements, and maximising cost efficiencies."

Read: Australia pledges $2.7b to progress nuclear submarine shipyard build

The project under the AUKUS alliance, among the US, UK, and Australia, is seen as crucial to enhancing defense capabilities.

For the project, the UK had pledged £4 billion ($5.3 billion), the US $17.5 billion, and Australia more than 30 billion Australian dollars ($20.7 billion).