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Difference between buying new and used US submarines under AUKUS

ABC Australia · Jun 1, 2026, 6:51 PM · Also reported by 3 other sources

Key takeaways

Australia will be buying three used Virginia-class submarines as part of the stopgap phase of AUKUS.
Australia is set to only buy second-hand US nuclear submarines under the stopgap phase of AUKUS.
The three Virginia-class submarines are expected to be the Block IV model, which started entering service in 2020.

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Australia will be buying three used Virginia-class submarines as part of the stopgap phase of AUKUS. (Reuters: Brian Snyder)

Australia is set to only buy second-hand US nuclear submarines under the stopgap phase of AUKUS.

The three Virginia-class submarines are expected to be the Block IV model, which started entering service in 2020.

Article preview — originally published by ABC Australia. Full story at the source.

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Difference between buying new and used US submarines under AUKUS

Key takeaways

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