Washington has designated the USS Colorado (SSN 788) as the first US Navy Virginia-class fast-attack submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) beginning in late 2027.
Defense leaders from the US, Australia, and the UK announced the milestone in a joint statement, underscoring the agreement’s role in bolstering Indo-Pacific deterrence as part of the trilateral AUKUS security pact.
Operating out of HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, SRF-West is projected to host up to four American and one British fast-attack submarine on a rotational basis.
Officials noted that the rotational force will accelerate Australia’s readiness to operate and maintain a sovereign, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet while expanding regional sustainment networks.
“AUKUS activities associated with SRF-West will be consistent with the AUKUS partners’ respective international obligations, including those under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and Australia’s obligations under the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga),” officials said in a joint statement.
Preparations Underway
Following the announcement, the Pentagon verified that the USS Colorado successfully arrived at HMAS Stirling for a scheduled cooperative maintenance operation prior to deployment.
Activities are expected to showcase Canberra’s expanding infrastructure and capability to service nuclear-powered allied vessels, promoting commonality across the international program’s submarine forces.
“This maintenance activity represents the ultimate integration of a UK, US, and Australian workforce,” said Royal Australian Navy Rear Adm. David Mann, head of Virginia Division at the Australian Submarine Agency.
“Operating as a single team, we are testing our infrastructure, validating our nuclear stewardship processes, and substantially upskilling our naval and civilian workforces.”
