AUKUS Submarines Will Cost up to $63 Billion Over Next 10 Years

The government also plans to spend billions on ‘autonomous and uncrewed maritime vehicles’ as part of AUKUS Pillar II.

A picture of Australia's current Collins Class Submarines joined in formation by United States Navy Submarine USS Santa Fe in the West Australian Exercise Area in February 2019. Courtesy of LSIS Richard Cordell/Department of Defense

Submarines with conventional armaments and nuclear-powered engines—and the associated infrastructure—will receive $53 billion to $63 billion (US$34 billion to US$41 billion) over the next decade, the Australian government says.

The infrastructure is primarily a nuclear-powered submarine operating base in Western Australia.