Major Development Toward Programme
Pentagon picks USS Colorado as first nuclear-powered submarine for joint Australia base - Washington Times
Why it matters
The Pentagon has named USS Colorado as the first US nuclear-powered attack submarine to be based with Australian forces, giving concrete form to Submarine Rotational Force-West at HMAS Stirling. It accelerates Australian crew training, maintenance and infrastructure readiness ahead of the planned Virginia-class purchase, and embeds a persistent US undersea presence on Australia's west coast. It also deepens Australia's operational and political entanglement with US force posture in the Indian Ocean and beyond.
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