Australia’s submarine fleet is facing critical availability issues, with only one Collins-class submarine fully operational as the rest undergo urgent repairs and upgrades.
The country’s six Collins submarines, which have served since 1996, are experiencing unprecedented hull corrosion, leading to delays in maintenance.
Two submarines are currently held up at Adelaide’s Osborne shipyard, where ongoing industrial strikes are slowing extensive “full-cycle docking” maintenance. Three others are stationed at Western Australia’s Garden Island, with one reportedly on standby for emergency deployment, though some are awaiting service certification.
Despite assurances from the Australian Defence Force that it can meet operational needs, sources confirm that several submarines are out of action. The submarine repair delays come as Australia eyes the future AUKUS partnership, which promises the rotation of U.S. and British nuclear-powered submarines by 2027 and the eventual delivery of Australia’s first Virginia-class subs in the 2030s.
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