The United States has designated the USS Colorado as the first nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine to join a rotational force based at Western Australia’s HMAS Stirling starting in late 2027, as allied defense chiefs move the $368 billion AUKUS pact forward.
Defense leaders from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement naming the 377-foot Virginia-class vessel for deployment to Submarine Rotational Force-West at an Australian navy base near Perth. The selection puts a concrete name to the first boat that will operate within the persistent rotational force, which is projected to host up to four U.S. fast-attack submarines and one British Astute-class submarine.
USS Colorado Arrives at HMAS Stirling for Maintenance
The announcement coincides with the arrival of the USS Colorado at HMAS Stirling for a month-long maintenance period following its transit from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The visit marks the fourth time an allied nuclear-powered submarine has undergone maintenance in Western Australia since the AUKUS agreement was established. Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence John Healey announced the designation, according to official statements. The USS Colorado (SSN 788) is a 115-meter fast-attack submarine commissioned in March 2018 that carries a crew of 130 submariners, and earlier this summer completed a two-year maintenance overhaul at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
USS Colorado Selected for AUKUS Submarine Rotations in AustraliaThe US Navy has selected the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Colorado as the first boat assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West, with rotations at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia set to begin in late… pic.twitter.com/yK33keaopy
The current maintenance period involves Australian personnel conducting hands-on work on a U.S. submarine using local infrastructure. Upgraded port facilities at the base now feature an Australian-built safety walkway around the submarine sail, a pure water plant, a high-pressure air compressor, and dehumidification equipment designed to support advanced undersea platforms.
Workforce Demands and Recruitment Challenges Facing the Fleet
While infrastructure preparations advance, experts warn that crewing the future fleet presents a steep challenge. Peter Briggs cautioned that the Royal Australian Navy must expand its personnel pipeline to support the acquisition of Virginia-class boats, which require up to 134 crew members—nearly three times the complement needed for Australia’s older Collins-class diesel-electric vessels.
We have got to triple the size of the submarine arm and we’ve got to train them in nuclear skills. You are heading toward needing a submarine arm of 3,000, that’s the hill you have to climb.
Peter Briggs, via The Guardian
According to navy figures, approximately 145 Australian personnel have completed U.S. Naval nuclear power training. Defense officials project having 400 Royal Australian Navy officers and sailors trained and ready to serve by 2030, though wider workforce pressures remain a central hurdle for the multi-decade defense project.
Strategic Timeline and Political Scrutiny Surrounding the Pact
The trilateral pact has faced public inquiries regarding its cost and delivery schedules. Minister for Defence Richard Marles maintained that the nation remains on schedule to acquire its first nuclear-powered submarines from the United States in the early 2030s, stating that officials are working at pace to deliver the optimal pathway.
The broader defense program encompasses plans for Australia to acquire three Virginia-class submarines before building its own SSN-AUKUS boats domestically. Meanwhile, a public inquiry led by Peter Garrett examines the pact’s financial commitments, environmental considerations, and radioactive waste storage plans as the rotational force prepares to reach initial operating capacity in 2027.