USS Colorado Named First AUKUS Submarine for Rotational Force-West in Australia
The U.S. Department of War on Oct. 26 issued a joint statement by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, and UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, designating the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) as the first U.S. submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West), beginning in late 2027 at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
SRF-West is projected to host up to four U.S. fast-attack submarines and one UK submarine on a rotational basis. The statement said the upcoming U.S. Submarine Maintenance Period, beginning later this week, will further demonstrate Australia's growing ability to sustain U.S. and UK nuclear-powered submarines, and that the rotational presence marks a significant milestone for AUKUS Pillar I and a decisive step in strengthening collective deterrence in the Pacific.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Jeffrey M. Richardson / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
