Surging
               forward
into history

The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Program is the most significant industrial and technical endeavour in Australian history. The program will deliver a major boost to Australian industry, jobs, infrastructure and our defence capability to keep Australians safe.

3 Nations

Working together to better contribute to a sovereign and resilient Indo-Pacific.

20,000 jobs

Highly skilled jobs for Australians for decades to come.

$53-63 billion

Total planned investment over the decade from 2024-25 to 2033-34.

8 submarines

By early 2040s Australia will own and operate a conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine capability.

2027

UK and US nuclear-powered submarines will begin a rotational presence in Australia - ‘Submarine Rotational Force-West’. (SRF-West)

AUKUS

Ensuring we have capabilities that contribute to a strategy of denial, enhancing Australia’s capacity to deter coercion and increase the ADF’s capacity for impactful projection.

Explore our stories

The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia and the Right Honourable John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom (UK) signed the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty (the Geelong Treaty) at the UK- Australia Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Geelong, Victoria.
30 July 2025

Treaty brings SSN-AUKUS a step closer

A treaty between the Governments of Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) has secured the delivery of Australia’s first locally constructed nuclear submarine.

Explore a nuclear-powered submarine

Deep dive with a nuclear-powered submarine and see what gives them superior stealth, endurance, and why they are vital for modern naval defence and deterrence.

Let's dive deep

Let's take a tour with a nuclear submarine. Click through to explore.

Pathway to Australia's nuclear-powered submarine capability

Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program represents the most significant industrial and technical endeavour in Australian history.

Embeds and industrial workforce
Virginia Class
Increasing Port
visits (From 2023)
SRF-West
(As early as 2027)
Astute Class
Australia Sovereign
Ready (Early 2030s)
Australian Virginia
Class Submarines
Virginia Class
Australian Shipyard
Design and Construction
(From 2023)
Construction
of SSN-AUKUS
(During the 2020s)
Planned Delivery of
UK's First SSN-AUKUS
(Late 2030s)
Planned Delivery of
Australia's First SSN-AUKUS
(In early 2040s)
SSN-AUKUS
Collins Class Capability
Collins Class Capability
2023
2033
2043
2053