On the same day that shipbuilder HII announced the successful completion of its initial sea trials for the 25th Virginia-class submarine – named Massachusetts (SSN 798) – John Noh, deputy assistant secretary for East Asia and Pentagon nominee, revealed that the US’s review of its involvement in the AUKUS project was still ongoing... Continues below

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The sea tests took place over several days with a team from both Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) – a division of HII – and the US Navy, with a focus on proving the vessel’s capabilities. It was the first time the submarine had been submerged and it completed high-speed manoeuvres both above and below the surface.

NNS president Kari Wilkinson noted that the latest progress of the testing programme was “an important step in demonstrating” the boat’s capabilities. Massachusetts is expected to be commissioned in early 2026 for the US Navy, and is part of the Block IV group of SSN nuclear-powered attack submarines in the Virginia-class.

Under Pillar I of the long-term AUKUS defence agreement between Australia, the UK and the US, Australia is set to acquire between three and five second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s. The agreement also involves the three countries working together to deliver five new AUKUS SSN submarines to bolster Australia’s defence, along with seven new vessels for the UK to replace its Astute-class.

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In June, however, US President Donald Trump announced that the US Department of Defense (DoD) – now the Department of War – had launched a formal review of the trilateral partnership, calling into question the nuclear-powered submarine agreement. While this assessment was meant to take just 30 days, it is still ongoing, as was confirmed on 7 October when the Pentagon’s Noh was questioned by the US Senate’s Armed Services Committee.

“The Department [of War] is conducting a review of AUKUS to make sure that it is fully aligned with President Trump’s America-first foreign policy,” said Noh. “It is a brass-tacks common-sense look at the realities facing AUKUS, including the state of our submarine industrial base.”

Addressing capacity issues

One of the key concerns that the US claims to be addressing is the US Navy’s capacity to hand over three to five Virginia-class submarines within the next 10 years without risking its own country’s operational readiness, as it has struggled to keep up with production requirements.

“My understanding is our summary industrial base produces 1.2 Virginia-class submarines a year,” noted Noh. “That number needs to go up to 2.33 Virginia-class submarines a year for us to be able to meet both US requirements and fulfil our obligations under AUKUS Pillar I.”

According to Adm Daryl Cottle, chief of naval operations, the US’s submarine industrial base will need to go through a “transformational improvement in production capacity”, with 100% improvement needed in order to fulfil the requirement.

Noh went on to say that a common sense approach was needed “to strengthen AUKUS” to ensure it is sustainable, with involvement needed from all three countries to achieve this.

One issue that has been raised by critics of the review from both Democrats and Republicans is the level of investment already committed by Australia towards US shipbuilding as part of the AUKUS pact. Australia has committed to pay US$2 billion by the end of 2025, with more than half reportedly having already been paid.

As reported by ABC News Australia, Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen said: “What kind of message does it send to our ally Australia that after they have committed significant contributions to AUKUS that we are still fooling around…with a review that should have been done months ago?”

Talks are scheduled to take place between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Trump in Washington later this month.

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