Defence Yet to Calculate Savings From Switch to 2nd-Hand AUKUS Submarines Department of Defence officials have not yet calculated the anticipated savings from the AUKUS submarine program’s shift to purchasing used rather than new submarines from the United States. This change means Australia will acquire used Virginia-class submarines. Initially, the program was estimated to cost $368 billion, involving the purchase of eight nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines.

• Defence officials have not calculated expected savings from buying used AUKUS submarines.
• Australia will now acquire used Virginia-class submarines from the United States.
• The AUKUS submarine program was originally slated to cost $368 billion.
• Pillar 1 involves buying eight nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines.
• Projected Australian federal spending on AUKUS from 2026-2036 is $71 billion to $96 billion.