Why is Australia buying used submarines? A naval expert answers key AUKUS questions

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · Jun 05, 2026 · 1195 words · By Jennifer Parker

International Reputation and Alliances Fiscal Transparency of Defence Spending National Security and Capability Gap

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A former Navy officer discusses the AUKUS submarine agreement, addressing concerns regarding the purchase of used Virginia-class submarines, project costs, and US production capacity. The author argues that the program is a necessary stopgap to avoid a capability gap and warns against the reputational risks of abandoning the deal.

Propaganda risk 30%

Claims checked 18

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Following the recent announcement that Australia would acquire three submarines already in US service rather than two used submarines and one new one, AUKUS has again dominated headlines.

Why it matters

AUKUS is a defence capability agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Common ground

Since it was announced in 2021, it’s rarely been out of the news.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Black-and-White Fallacy: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this International Reputation and Alliances story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that From 2016–19 it averaged 1.9 boats a year?
How does this story connect International Reputation and Alliances with Fiscal Transparency of Defence Spending over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/why-is-australia-buying-used-submarines-a-naval-expe…

analyticsAnalysis

30%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Black-and-White Fallacy 70% confidence

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Why it matters: Recognizing black-and-white fallacy helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 18 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 8

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

schedule

Claim 1: “From 2016–19 it averaged 1.9 boats a year.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “Australia will now receive three Block IV Virginia class submarines.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources confirm that Australia will receive three Block IV Virginia class submarines.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of nuclear-powered submarines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nuclear_submarines

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is an American long-range, all-weather, jet-powered, subsonic cruise missile that is used by the United States Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Nether…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_missile

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Virginia class, or the SSN-774 class, is a class of nuclear-powered attack submarines with vertical launching system (VLS)-launched cruise missile capability in service with the United States Navy…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia-class_submarine

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 3: “Of the total, about $244 billion is the projected cost, while the remaining $122.9 billion is a 50% contingency on top.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 4: “AUKUS is a defence capability agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple web sources confirm AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US.

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web search NEUTRAL — A direct result of the creation of the partnership was Australia's controversial cancellation of a French-Australian submarine contract worth €56 billion (A$90 ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AUKUS

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web search NEUTRAL — Oct 20, 2025 ... A multi-billion dollar submarine deal between long-standing allies - Australia, the UK and the US - came under the spotlight after the Trump ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr589k5yleo

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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 16, 2025 ... AUKUS is a trilateral partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States formed in 2021 to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.
https://perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-insight/the-austr…

schedule

Claim 5: “The US is presently building 1.3 a year.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 6: “the new Block V submarine, which is 2,000 tonnes larger than the Block IV Virginia.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 7: “At Senate estimates this week, the Australian Submarine Agency said each boat will have more than 20 years of life remaining when we receive them.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the evidence mentions the acquisition of in-service submarines, none of the provided search results explicitly quote the Australian Submarine Agency at Senate estimates regarding the '20 years of life remaining' figure.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Virginia-class submarines will be acquired through 2043, and are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later submarines expected to operate ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia-class_submarine

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 3, 2026 ... Under the agreement made in 2023 with the United States and United Kingdom, Australia would buy three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines ...
https://www.facebook.com/sbsnews/posts/the-news-that-austral…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 3, 2026 ... Defence Minister Richard Marles recently confirmed Australia will acquire three in-service Virginia-class submarines from the United States ...
https://www.facebook.com/abcnews.au/posts/how-old-will-the-s…

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Claim 8: “The purchase of three Virginia class submarines in 2032, 2035 and 2038 will provide this”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources specify the planned sequential acquisition of three Virginia class submarines in 2032, 2035, and 2038.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Virginia is a suburb on the rural outskirts of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. Port Wakefield Road, the main highway taking traffic to the north of Adelaide, passes through the area and…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia,_South_Australia

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Virginia Lee Roberts Giuffre ( JOO-fray; née Roberts; 9 August 1983 – 25 April 2025) was an American and Australian advocate for survivors of sex trafficking and one of the most prominent accusers of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Giuffre

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Australia would acquire three submarines already in US service rather than two used submarines and one new one”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources confirm that the US will sell Australia three in-service Virginia-class submarines, pivoting from the previous plan of one new and two in-service vessels.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The SSN-AUKUS, also known as the SSN-A and the Aukus-class submarine, is a planned class of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) intended to enter service ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSN-AUKUS

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 1, 2026 ... The U.S. will sell Australia three in-service Virginia-class submarines, pivoting from the planned acquisition of one new and two in-service ...
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/01/u-s-will-sell-3-in-service-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 3, 2026 ... Last week, Defence Minister Richard Marles revealed that all three of the submarines would be in-service vessels from the US Navy. Marles said ...
https://www.facebook.com/sbsnews/posts/the-news-that-austral…

schedule

Claim 10: “Since 2011 it has set a goal of increasing its build rate to two submarines a year.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “The figure most often quoted for AUKUS is $368 billion.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the specific cost figure of $368 billion.

schedule

Claim 12: “In May, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle told Congress he expects Virginia production to reach two boats per year in around 2032.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 13: “The kind of submarines Australia will receive only started entering service in 2020.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results explicitly state that the Block IV model, which Australia will receive, started entering service in 2020.

schedule

Claim 14: “Australia has established a submarine base near Perth, embedded personnel in US and UK submarine programs, commenced major infrastructure works, trained hundreds of personnel, and secured US congressional approval for the submarine transfers.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 15: “Australia has Collins class submarines that entered service between 1996 and 2003.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including the Nepean Naval Museum and other news reports, confirm the Collins class entered service between 1996 and 2003.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Collins-class submarines are Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The Collins class takes its name from Australian Vice Admiral John Augustine C…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collins-class_submarine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lindsay Collins (born 17 April 1996) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), Queensland in State of Origin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Collins

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lisa Collins (born 1968) is an Australian actress best known for her starring role in the movie Fix (1997) and her portrayal of Louisa, the wife of Morgan Earp, in the 1993 film Tombstone. Collins was…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Collins

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 16: “The Department of Defence’s 2026 Integrated Investment Program states nuclear-powered submarines will cost between $71 billion and $96 billion over the next decade.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 17: “A Virginia class submarine off the production line would normally have a 33-year life.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources confirm the Virginia-class has a life-of-ship reactor core life of 33 years.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — U.S. Route 33 (US 33) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs northwest–southeast for 709 miles (1,141 km) from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_33

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — U.S. Route 33 (US 33) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Elkhart, Indiana to Richmond, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs 135.60 miles (218.23 km) from the West Virginia st…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_33_in_Virginia

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — State Route 33 (SR 33) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs 72.23 miles (116.24 km) from U.S. Route 33 and US 250 in Richmond, Virginia east to Chesapeake …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_State_Route_33

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 18: “They carry more than 20 torpedoes and 12 Tomahawk land strike missiles.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific numbers (20 torpedoes and 12 Tomahawks) appear in one web search result. While the general capability is known, the exact count is not corroborated by a second independent source in the provided evidence.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Virginia redistricting referendum appeared on the April 21, 2026, ballot in the state of Virginia as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The amendment passed by a slim margin, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Virginia_redistricting_re…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.