World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
USS Colorado to join rotating submarine force in Australia in 2027
The US has assigned the USS Colorado as the first American nuclear-powered attack submarine for a rotating force based in Western Australia.
The 115-metre Virginia-class submarine, armed with missiles and torpedoes, is expected to arrive at a new Australian base in late 2027.
The force will be based at HMAS Stirling and is planned to host up to five US and British attack submarines over time.
AUKUS brings together the US, Australia and the UK in a defence pact signed in 2021, seen as a response to China’s military build-up in the region.
The rotating deployments are intended to help Australia prepare to operate and maintain its own future nuclear-powered submarines.
The deployment is a step toward joint deterrence in the Pacific, while the AUKUS plan also envisages Australia receiving at least three US Virginia-class submarines over 15 years.
The Pentagon has assigned the USS Colorado as the first US nuclear-powered attack submarine for a rotating force based in Western Australia.
The 115-metre Virginia-class submarine is expected to sail to the new Australian base in late 2027.
The deployment is part of the AUKUS defence pact involving the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
The allies described the deployment as a “significant milestone” in building joint deterrence in the Pacific.
- Who
- The Pentagon assigned the USS Colorado, a US nuclear-powered attack submarine.
- What
- It will join a rotating submarine force based in Western Australia.
- When
- It is expected to sail to the Australian base in late 2027.
- Where
- The force will be based at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
- Why
- The deployment is intended to build joint US-Australia-UK deterrence in the Pacific under the AUKUS pact.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Pentagon assigned the USS Colorado to join the rotating submarine force based in Western Australia.
The submarine is expected to sail to the new Australian base.
- Submarine
- USS Colorado
- Class
- Virginia class
- Length
- 115 metres
- Base
- HMAS Stirling, Western Australia
- Planned arrival
- Late 2027
- Rotating force capacity
- Up to five attack submarines: four from the United States and one from the United Kingdom
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significant milestone