Australia Prepares $8B Base for US Nuclear Submarine Fleet

Australia is advancing an A$8 billion (approximately US$5.2 billion) upgrade of its HMAS Stirling naval base to accommodate rotating US and British nuclear-powered submarines from late 2027, as Canberra announced an additional A$88 million investment in its submarine workforce.

Defence Minister Richard Marles unveiled the new funding on November 12 alongside Australia's 2026 Nuclear-Powered Submarine Workforce Strategy.

The six-year investment will expand technical training and employment pathways across Western Australia and South Australia, supporting at least 275 apprentices and trainees.

HMAS Stirling, near Perth, is being upgraded to host Submarine Rotational Force-West, a key component of the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The upgrades include additional submarine berths at Diamantina Pier, improved shore power infrastructure, emergency management facilities and a new submarine training centre.

The training facility, scheduled for completion in early 2027, will house 16 Virginia-class submarine simulators, according to Marles.

The US Navy's Virginia-class attack submarine USS Colorado is currently undergoing maintenance at HMAS Stirling, with more than 100 Australian personnel involved in the work.

The submarine is expected to become the first US vessel operating under the planned rotational force next year.

Marles said approximately 1,200 American households could relocate to the surrounding region over the next four to five years as the submarine presence expands.

The AUKUS program is intended to enable Australia to operate its own conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet from the early 2030s.

The government estimates that the wider program will support more than 20,000 Australian jobs over the next three decades.

The A$8 billion base investment was announced previously and is not part of the newly allocated A$88 million workforce package.