USNI News – The U.S. will sell Australia three in-service Virginia-class submarines, pivoting from the planned acquisition of one new and two in-service Virginias, the countries announced Saturday.

Naval News – The three AUKUS partners Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have published a new statement on the side of the Shangi La-Dialogue in Singapore. The declaration notably changes the acquisition of Virginia-class nuclear powered submarines by Australia under the AUKUS Pillar I “Optimal Pathway”. Also part of this agreement is the intention to collaborate on developing payloads for uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV) under AUKUS Pillar II.

Naval News – The Australian government on 19 May 2026 has officially announced the launch of the so-called “life of type extension effort” (LOTE) for the six Collins-class submarines operational with the Australian Navy. The event marks a significant milestone in a lengthy and convoluted history of modernising these submarines, while a new design could eventually replace the boats. Naval News provides an overview on the background and present scope for this project intended to keep the six submarines operational into the 2040s.

Defense News – Australia has moved to reverse a decline in the number of warships, as its surface combatant fleet stands to fall to its smallest size since World War II.

USNI News – Australia will increase its defense spending by $37.9 billion U.S. dollars over the next decade, according to its 2026 National Defense Strategy and accompanying Integrated Investment Program documents, which were unveiled last week.

Naval News – The Australian government published the biennial National Defence Strategy (NDS) and the corresponding Integrated Investment Program (IIP). The publication occurs amidst a background of conflict in the Middle East and a shifting American national security posture across regions directly affecting Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.

Naval News – Even as Australia eyes the heady prospect of operating nuclear-powered attack submarines in the future, it is facing the challenge of keeping six ageing Collins-class diesel-electric submarines in service for many more years.

Navy Lookout – A newly approved US support package for the SSN-AUKUS programme has effectively confirmed that the RN and Royal Australian Navy’s next-generation attack submarines will be equipped with vertical launch cells.

Naval News – The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has just two of an original six Huon-class minehunters left in service. Plus, two years ago, the service suspended renewal of its mine countermeasures capability that was to be delivered via Project Sea 1905. Looking at this evidence, some analysts believe Australia’s naval mine countermeasures (MCM) capability is atrophying. However, top brass in the RAN are satisfied that the navy will maintain a satisfactory capability against sea mines and underwater threats.

Breaking Defense – Australian navy chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said that the Bluebottle was an extremely durable asset, noting that “these things have remained on station as the cyclones have rolled through, and they’ve remained operational.”

Navy Lookout – Australia has just announced it will spend around AUS$30bn (£15.6bn) to build a large nuclear submarine construction yard in Adelaide. The new facility at Osborne is intended to replicate the processes in use at BAE Systems’ facility at Barrow.

1945 – A retired UK rear admiral and former Ministry of Defence nuclear-policy director warns the SSN-AUKUS effort is at high risk because the Royal Navy’s submarine enterprise is short on experienced people, strained by low readiness, and struggling to sustain operations. Under the AUKUS “optimal pathway,” the UK and Australia are meant to co-develop and build a new SSN-AUKUS class for deliveries starting in the late 2030s, while the U.S. sells Australia used Virginia-class boats in the interim.

(Thanks to Alain)

ABC – Three narco subs have been found near the Solomon Islands in the past 12 months. NSW Police say they are finding “enormous” quantities of illicit drugs in the community, despite border seizures up 44 per cent in the last financial year. Police also allege teenagers are being recruited online to carry out criminal tasks. 

Defense News – Australia has its work cut out keeping aging Collins-class diesel-electric submarines in service as it transitions to nuclear-powered submarines, firstly to second-hand Virginia-class boats from the United States, and then to SSN-AUKUS submarines designed and built in conjunction with the U.K.

Breaking Defense – Navy Secretary John Phelan said the ongoing review is designed to make the original deal “better,” to clear up some of the “ambiguity” and be a “win-win for everybody.”

The War Zone – An upgraded derivative of Japan’s Mogami class frigate has won a competition to become the Royal Australian Navy’s next major surface warship. Beyond being an important new addition to Australia’s combat fleet, this would be one of, if not the most significant foreign arms sale for Japan since the end of World War II.

Naval News – Australia will soon face a problem. It will have lots of naval helicopters, but not enough warships to embark them upon. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) currently has 23 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, but it has another 13 on the way. Simultaneously, Australia’s navy presently has ten surface combatants – seven Anzac-class frigates and three Hobart-class destroyers – a total that will reduce by one next year when the frigate HMAS Arunta retires.

Defense News –  Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft took center stage in Australia’s and New Zealand’s joint response during a surprise appearance last month of Chinese warships sailing around Australia, while the nations’ numbers of surface combatants have been dwindling, according to officials and analysts.

War on the Rocks – As the new American president shook allied capitals all over the world, a Virginia-class submarine — the USS Minnesota — arrived at a port in western Australia for the first of many routine Australian port visits slated for American submarines this year. It seemed like a positive signal for the U.S.-Australian alliance. And, despite uncertainty over America’s commitments, officials in the Trump administration have praised the AUKUS security compact. Still, these are the only sorts of Virginia-class submarines Australians should expect to arrive on their shores anytime soon: visiting American submarines crewed by Americans. Despite the promises of the first and core pillar of the AUKUS security compact, the United States simply won’t have enough Virginia-class submarines to spare. To make matters worse, the SSN AUKUS — meant to be Australia’s long-term solution — is likely to encounter significant delays and issues, similar to Britain’s past submarine programs, due to challenges in design maturity, production capacity, and technical complexities, making it an unreliable solution for Australia’s submarine needs. Faced with a stark reality, it is time for Australia to reconsider its options.

Defense News – Navies across the Asia-Pacific region are boosting amphibious capabilities in an effort to protect their complex coastlines, as China continues its flex its military muscle in the region.

PSNews – The Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of six Collins-class conventional submarines has been placed on the Federal Government’s Projects of Concern (POC) list over questions about the boats’ sustainment.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – Tomahawks will give Australia the ability to reach deep into China’s anti-access bubble, striking ships and land targets.

The War Zone – The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has experimented with a new, rapidly laid temporary airfield surface, which should make it easier to conduct expeditionary aircraft operations, something that is of increasing relevance across the Indo-Pacific region.

The Guardian – The admiral who runs America’s submarine building program has confirmed construction is behind schedule and nowhere near the rate required to supply Australia’s Aukus nuclear submarines on schedule.

Breaking Defense – Five of Australia’s six aging Collins-class submarines are undergoing repairs or are awaiting upgrades, according to a new report here, leaving only one fully operational boat to prowl the Pacific. It’s a development that could hobble Canberra’s ability to project power in the region and one that analysts said was “alarming” if not predictable.