Australian taxpayers to pay $11bn to extend lifespan of ageing Collins-class submarines amid Aukus delay

Taxpayers will fork out an extra $11bn to extend the lifespan of Australia’s ageing Collins-class submarines for another decade, bridging the capability gap before the scheduled arrival of the first Aukus vessels in 2032. Originally designed to have a 30-year working life, the six Adelaide-built submarines have already been operational for between 23 and 30 years. The Albanese government announced in 2024 that it would undertake so-called “life of type extension” works to keep the six Collins class boats in the water for an additional 10 years. The defence minister, Richard Marles , announced on Tuesday the first works to extend the life of the oldest submarine, HMAS Farncomb, would begin this month. The boat had been due to be retired this year, but is now expected to operate until about 2036. Replacement of diesel electric operating infrastructure onboard the Collins class vessels will only proceed if required to extend their lives, a change from previous plans designed to bridge capability gaps with the now dumped Attack-class program. If successful, extending the vessels’ operational lives into the late-2040s would bridge the gap for the arrival of secondhand US Virginia-class nuclear submarines under the Aukus agreement with Washington and London. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email The first Virginia-class is due to arrive in Australia in 2032 , with another arriving every four years, before the bespoke Australian-built model starts coming online in 2042. …