The Navy’s sub boss recently said the tripartite AUKUS agreement’s optimal pathway would have the U.S. sell at least three attack submarines (SSNs) to Australia in the 2030s.
Following his remarks at the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium on Nov. 7, Commander of Submarine Forces Vice Adm. Bill Houston told reporters the current plan is for the U.S. government to sell two in-service Virginia-class attack submarines to Australia in 2032 and 2035 as well as one new construction boat in 2038.
Houston said none of the sold submarines will contain the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) coming in a set of new SSNs. The VPM will give the Navy increased missile capacity to make up for the decommissioning of four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines.
The third submarine ultimately bound for Australia would be a Block Seven vessel, the first set of boats shifting from the VPM back to what Houston called “classic Virginia.” The Block Seven attack submarines are expected to start construction in 2030.
He reiterated the U.S. is prepared to sell up to five total SSNs if necessary, to hedge against any issues that come up with Australia shifting to domestically producing its own new nuclear-powered attack submarine, SSN-AUKUS.
The SSN-AUKUS design will be shared with the U.K. and is based on the U.K.’s previous work for its next generation attack submarine to succeed their own current Astute-class attack submarines.
A recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report looking at costs in a House bill that would allow the U.S. to sell up to two Virginia-class boats within 15 years predicted the U.S. Navy would transfer the first vessel in 2030 and the second in 2033. CBO estimated the submarines would be sold to Australia at a cost of $3 billion each (Defense Daily, Nov. 3).