US starts to build submarine presence on strategic Australian coast under AUKUS 17 March 2025
The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) prepares to moor at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia on 25 February 2025. Image courtesy of the US Navy’s Newsroom.
The USS Minnesota is a forerunner to four Virginia class submarines that will be hosted at a Western Australian naval base from 2027, under the AUKUS partnership to transfer nuclear submarine capability to Australia.