First AUKUS nuclear sub to come to Australia revealed
The United States has named USS Colorado as the first nuclear submarine to deploy to Australia under the AUKUS agreement. The 10-year-old Virginia-class vessel will be based at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia from late 2027, Defence Minister Richard Marles said in a joint statement. It is the first of up to four American submarines and one British submarine due to rotate through the base. The announcement follows criticism that the US would supply second-hand vessels rather than the brand-new submarine first promised. The statement says the arrangement will comply with relevant non-proliferation treaties.