Australia To Buy 3 Second-hand Nuclear-powered Submarines Under Revised AUKUS Deal

ISTANBUL, May 31 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- All three of the nuclear-powered submarines Australia will receive under the AUKUS military pact will be second-hand, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Sunday, touting the "significant" savings under the revised arrangement, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

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

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

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

The project under the AUKUS alliance among the US, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia is seen as crucial to enhancing defence capabilities.

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

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU