AUKUS May Be Impacted by US Submarine Supply Constraints

AUKUS aims to increase security in the Indo-Pacific region, and the supply of the submarines is under threat after the US cuts to their defence budget.

The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) is seen before at the commissioning ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., on March 17, 2018. Dana Jensen/The Day via AP

Australian defence officials say they are not concerned by the potential repercussions of the scaling down of production and the subsequent supply of U.S.-built Virginia-class submarines by the Biden administration.

Under conditions of the AUKUS Defence Pact, Australia’s diesel submarine fleet will be upgraded by the U.S. selling up to five second-hand submarines by the early 2030s.