Pentagon announces first US submarine joining Submarine Rotational Force-West

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Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Colorado arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Sept. 23, 2026. (MCS2 Nicholas A. Russell/U.S. Navy)

The Pentagon on Monday announced the first submarine to be assigned to an Australian rotational force comprising four U.S. fast-attack submarines and one UK fast-attack submarine.

The USS Colorado will be the first U.S. Navy Virginia-class fast-attack submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in conjunction with representatives from the United Kingdom and Australia.

SRF-West, which is expected to be fully operational in 2027, will assist a fleet of U.S. and British nuclear-powered fast attack submarines aboard Australia’s HMAS Stirling installation near Perth.

“SRF-West will accelerate Australia’s readiness to own, operate, maintain, and regulate a sovereign, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability, as well as support submarine deployments by expanding maintenance options and sustainment infrastructure in the region for AUKUS partners,” a Pentagon statement read.

AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States designed to promote a safe Indo-Pacific region.

The U.S. stood up Naval Support Activity Stirling in Western Australia in June, providing “services and programs for U.S. service members, civilian personnel, contractors and their families” assigned to Submarine Rotational Force–West, according to a service release .

The new rotational force will increase the region’s maintenance resources and bolster a sustainment framework.

On May 30 in Singapore, Hegseth met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey to discuss AUKUS objectives to defend the Indo-Pacific region.

The Australian and UK officials confirmed that Australia was slated to meet its scheduled delivery of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine in the next few years.

The four officials also emerged from the meeting with news that the three nations were focused on developing and fielding uncrewed undersea vehicles to provide defensive and offensive military capabilities throughout the region.

Riley Ceder is a reporter at Military Times, where he covers breaking news, criminal justice, investigations, and cyber. He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post, where he contributed to the Abused by the Badge investigation.

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2026年9月23日，弗吉尼亚级快速攻击潜艇“科罗拉多”号抵达夏威夷珍珠港-希卡姆联合基地。（MCS2 Nicholas A. Russell/美国海军）

五角大楼周一宣布，首艘潜艇将配属给澳大利亚轮换部队，该部队由四艘美国快速攻击潜艇和一艘英国快速攻击潜艇组成。

美国国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯与英国和澳大利亚的代表共同宣布，“科罗拉多”号将成为美国海军第一艘分配到西部潜艇轮换部队的弗吉尼亚级快速攻击潜艇。

SRF-West 预计将于 2027 年全面投入运营，届时将为驻扎在澳大利亚珀斯附近 HMAS Stirling 基地的美国和英国核动力快速攻击潜艇舰队提供支援。

五角大楼的一份声明称：“SRF-West 将加快澳大利亚拥有、运营、维护和监管主权、常规武装的核动力潜艇能力的准备，并通过扩大该地区 AUKUS 合作伙伴的维护选择和保障基础设施来支持潜艇部署。”

AUKUS 是澳大利亚、英国和美国之间的三边安全伙伴关系，旨在促进印太地区的安全。

据一份军方新闻稿称，美国于 6 月在西澳大利亚成立了斯特林海军支援基地，为分配到西部潜艇轮换部队的美国军人、文职人员、承包商及其家属提供“服务和项目”。

新的轮换部队将增加该地区的维护资源，并加强保障体系。

5月30日，赫格塞斯在新加坡会见了澳大利亚副总理兼国防大臣理查德·马尔斯和英国国防大臣约翰·希利，讨论了AUKUS保卫印太地区的目标。

澳大利亚和英国官员证实，澳大利亚将在未来几年内按计划交付一艘常规武装的核动力潜艇。

会后，这四位官员还透露，三国正致力于研发和部署无人水下航行器，以增强该地区的防御和进攻军事能力。

莱利·塞德是《军事时报》的记者，主要报道突发新闻、刑事司法、调查报道和网络安全新闻。他此前曾在《华盛顿邮报》担任调查实习生，参与了“警徽滥用职权”的调查报道。