AUKUS defense ministers from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom met in Singapore today, reaffirming their commitment to the AUKUS partnership and detailing significant progress across its two pillars. The Honorable Richard Marles MP, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, the Honorable Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War, and the Right Honorable John Healey MP, UK Secretary of State for Defense, confirmed that Pillar I, focusing on conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines, remains on track.
Key milestones for Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) continue to be met, with arrangements for its establishment in 2027 now finalized. SRF-West will enhance regional maintenance and sustainment infrastructure, accelerating Australia's readiness for its sovereign submarine capability. The United States authorized its Navy support elements for SRF-West this month and will begin rotating personnel to HMAS Stirling later this year. The United Kingdom also reaffirmed its rotational presence commitment, noting HMS ANSON's successful maintenance period. Australia plans substantial investments, including up to AUD 8 billion for SRF-West infrastructure, AUD 3.9 billion for the new Submarine Construction Yard, and AUD 12 billion for the Henderson Defense Precinct.
Ministers welcomed a proposed approach to streamline Australia's acquisition of three in-service Virginia-class submarines (VCS), simplifying logistics and maximizing cost efficiencies. Significant progress was also acknowledged in the design and delivery of SSN-AUKUS, an advanced warfighting capability for the UK and Australia, supported by UK investments of GBP 6 billion committed in 2025.
Under Pillar II, focused on advanced capabilities, the ministers announced the first Signature Project: developing cutting-edge payloads and enabling systems for Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), with delivery slated for 2027. This project aims to bolster protection of seabed infrastructure, enhance surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities, and improve anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, mine countermeasures, electronic warfare, and contested littoral maneuver. The ministers also supported expanding the AUKUS license-free environment and deepening collaboration across the trilateral defense industrial base.