Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have adjusted Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine acquisition path and launched a new undersea systems project under AUKUS, following announcements on 30 May 2026 at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The partners confirmed that Pillar I remains on track, while proposing that Australia receive three in-service Virginia-class submarines, replacing the earlier mix of in-service and new-build boats, without changing the previously indicated delivery timeline in the 2030s.
The move is intended to simplify supply-chain, operational and maintenance requirements and maximise cost efficiencies within the broader AUKUS submarine enterprise. In parallel, the three governments unveiled the first AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project, focused on payloads and enabling systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles. The phased programme will initially see each nation develop interchangeable national payloads, before moving to jointly developed trilateral payloads and enabling technologies, with UK commitments reported at £150 million. The capability set is intended to protect critical seabed infrastructure and enhance advanced surveillance, strike, logistics and undersea warfare operations, while driving interoperable standards and control systems across the three navies.