PEARL HARBOR (July 27, 2023) The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) arrives at its new homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 27, 2023. Vermont, the first Block IV Virginia-class submarine to enter service, is a new construction submarine that is joining the six Virginia-class submarines already assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 1. (U.S. Navy photo/video by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Amy Biller)The US Congress has passed the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and authorised the transfer of three Virginia Class submarines to Australia for the first time in US history.
The NDAA will establish a national exemption for Australia and the United Kingdom from US defence export control licensing and adds Australia and the United Kingdom to the US Defense Production Act.
Specifically, the NDAA authorises two in-service and one off the production line Virginia Class submarine to Australia to ensure there is no gap in Australia’s critical submarine capability in the lead-up to delivering Australian-built SSN-AUKUS from the early 2040s. Australia will retain the option to seek congressional approval for the purchase of up to two more Virginia Class submarines.
The act authorises the maintenance of US submarines by Australians in Australia to coincide with increased port visits by UK and US nuclear-powered submarines and a rotational presence from as early as 2027 under Submarine Rotational Force West. The most complex maintenance activity on a US nuclear-powered submarine in Australia to date is planned at HMAS Stirling in the second half of 2024.
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