The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN-788) arrived at HMAS Stirling on Oct. 27 to start a scheduled month-long maintenance period, the fourth such submarine maintenance period in the region since AUKUS’s establishment, according to a Navy press release.
This came days after the Pentagon announced SSN-788 will be the first American Virginia-class submarine assigned to Submarine Squadron 3, helping establish the Submarine Rotation Force-West (SRF-West) at HMAS Stirling.
After this maintenance period ends and it sails away, the Colorado is scheduled to return to HMAS Stirling to start the new posting in late 2027.
Under SRF-West, up to four U.S. attack submarines and one U.K. Royal Navy submarine will operate on a rotating basis out of Stirling.
The deployment of the Colorado is the next early step under AUKUS Pillar I, leading into the U.S. selling three to five Virginia-class attack submarines to Australia in the 2030s. Later, Australia plans to ultimately build its own SSN-AUKUS boats in the 2040s while sharing a design with the U.K. Royal Navy.
Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published a version of this story.
