The Pentagon on Monday announced the first submarine to be assigned to an Australian rotational force comprising four U.S. fast-attack submarines and one UK fast-attack submarine.
The USS Colorado will be the first U.S. Navy Virginia-class fast-attack submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in conjunction with representatives from the United Kingdom and Australia.
SRF-West, which is expected to be fully operational in 2027, will assist a fleet of U.S. and British nuclear-powered fast attack submarines aboard Australia’s HMAS Stirling installation near Perth.
“SRF-West will accelerate Australia’s readiness to own, operate, maintain, and regulate a sovereign, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability, as well as support submarine deployments by expanding maintenance options and sustainment infrastructure in the region for AUKUS partners,” a Pentagon statement read.
AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States designed to promote a safe Indo-Pacific region.
The U.S. stood up Naval Support Activity Stirling in Western Australia in June, providing “services and programs for U.S. service members, civilian personnel, contractors and their families” assigned to Submarine Rotational Force–West, according to a service release.
The new rotational force will increase the region’s maintenance resources and bolster a sustainment framework.
On May 30 in Singapore, Hegseth met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey to discuss AUKUS objectives to defend the Indo-Pacific region.
The Australian and UK officials confirmed that Australia was slated to meet its scheduled delivery of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine in the next few years.
The four officials also emerged from the meeting with news that the three nations were focused on developing and fielding uncrewed undersea vehicles to provide defensive and offensive military capabilities throughout the region.
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