Editing Virginia-class submarine (section)

== Potential exports ==
On 16 September 2021, Australian Prime Minister [[Scott Morrison]] announced that Australia had canceled its contract with French shipbuilder [[Naval Group]] for 12 {{sclass|Attack|submarine|0}} diesel-electric submarines based on the French {{sclass2|Barracuda|submarine|0||France}} nuclear submarine that were to replace Australia's diesel-electric {{sclass|Collins|submarine|2}}s.<ref name="Pursuenuclear">{{cite press release |author1=Prime Minister |author2=Minister for Defence |author3=Minister for Foreign Affairs |author4=Minister for Women |title=Australia to pursue Nuclear-powered Submarines through new Trilateral Enhanced Security Partnership |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/australia-pursue-nuclear-powered-submarines-through-new-trilateral-enhanced-security |website=Prime Minister of Australia |access-date=25 September 2021 |date=16 September 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927191633/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/australia-pursue-nuclear-powered-submarines-through-new-trilateral-enhanced-security |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[AUKUS]] trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, was announced the same day.<ref name="Announce">{{cite press release |author1=Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison |author2=Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson |author3=President of the United States of America Joseph R. Biden |title=Joint Leaders Statement on AUKUS |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/joint-leaders-statement-aukus |website=Prime Minister of Australia |access-date=25 September 2021 |date=16 September 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927191438/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/joint-leaders-statement-aukus |url-status=dead }}</ref> Under the pact, the US will share nuclear propulsion technology with Australia the same as it has with the UK since [[1958 US–UK Mutual Defence Agreement#Special nuclear materials barter|1958]] as will the UK.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Morrison |first=Prime Minister Scott |subject-link=Scott Morrison |interviewer=Jane Marwick |title=Interview with Jane Marwick, 6PR |work=[[6PR]] |date=16 September 2021 |location=Perth, Perth, Western Australia |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/interview-jane-marwick-6pr |access-date=27 September 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927120740/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/interview-jane-marwick-6pr |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last1=Ritchie |first1=Dr Nick |title=The UK Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme and Highly Enriched Uranium |url=https://uploads.fas.org/2015/03/2015-FAS-UK-NNPP-HEU-final2.pdf |location=University of York, UK |date=February 2015 |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref> The [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN) would acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines armed with conventional weapons with basic design and key technologies decided by an 18-month research project.<ref name="Pursuenuclear" /> On 22 November 2021, Australia, UK and the US signed the ''Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Agreement'' (ENNPIA) [[treaty]] to share classified information about nuclear propulsion.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-11-23 |title=Australia, UK and USA Formally Sign Agreement On Nuclear Submarine |url=https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2021/11/23/australia-uk-and-usa-formally-sign-agreement-on-nuclear-submarine/ |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=Global Defense Corp |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="ENNPIA">{{cite book |author1=Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office |title=Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Australia, and the Government of the United States of America for the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information |date=2021 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |isbn=9781528630351 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1036009/MS_8.2021_Agreement_UK_USA_Australia_Naval_Nuclear_Propulsion.pdf |access-date=13 January 2022 |series=Miscellaneous Series No.8 (2021)}}</ref>

On 13 March 2023, AUKUS announced that "in the early 2030s, pending Congressional approval, the United States intends to sell Australia three ''Virginia''-class submarines, with the potential to sell up to two more if needed".<ref name="AUKUSMar23"/> These submarines will ensure there is no capability gap between when the ''Collins''-class is retired and the introduction of a new class of nuclear-powered submarines the [[SSN-AUKUS]].<ref>{{OGL-attribution|version=3.0|{{cite web |author1=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |author2=[[Defence Nuclear Organisation]] |title=The AUKUS Nuclear Powered-Submarine Pathway: A Partnership for the Future |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1142588/The_AUKUS_nuclear_powered_submarine_pathway_a_partnership_for_the_future.pdf |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=14 March 2023 |ref={{harvid|Ministry of Defence|2023}} |pages=7}}}}</ref><ref name="FTMar23">{{cite web|title=Australia to buy US submarines to bridge gap before UK-design boats|date=10 March 2023|first1= Demetri|last1= Sevastopulo|first2 =Sylvia|last2 =Pfeifer|first3 =John Paul|last3=Rathbone|website= Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d5035343-8816-4390-a4dc-04579665849c|access-date=11 March 2023}}</ref> AUKUS also announced on the same day, the UK's SSNR submarine design will be renamed SSN-AUKUS and be trilaterally developed and built in the UK and in Australia.<ref name="FTMar23"/>{{sfn|Ministry of Defence|2023|p=7}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Design work begins on successor to Astute-class submarines in £170m deal |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2021/september/17/20210917-astute-successor |website=Royal Navy |access-date=19 March 2023 |date=17 September 2021}}</ref> The SSN-AUKUS class "will have a high degree of commonality" with the ''Virginia''-class, including "sharing elements of the propulsion plant, combat system and weapons".{{sfn|Ministry of Defence|2023|p=29}}

The first in-service United States Navy Block IV ''Virginia''-class boat is planned to be sold to the RAN in 2032 and the second in-service Block IV in 2035.<ref name="DefenseNews23">{{cite news |last1=Eckstein |first1=Megan |title=Here's when the US Navy plans to sell subs to Australia under AUKUS |url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/11/13/heres-when-the-us-navy-plans-to-sell-subs-to-australia-under-aukus/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |work=Defense News |publisher=Sightline Media Group |date=17 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Defence Minister Richard Marles |title=Interview with Andrew Clennell, Sky News |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/transcripts/2023-03-14/interview-andrew-clennell-sky-news |website=Department of Defence Ministers |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317140713/https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/transcripts/2023-03-14/interview-andrew-clennell-sky-news |url-status=dead }}</ref> The third boat to be sold to the RAN in 2038 will be a new Block VII without the Virginia Payload Module.<ref name="DefenseNews23"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Andrew |title=First newly built nuclear-powered submarine under AUKUS likely to be sold in 2038, US admiral reveals |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-09/aukus-submarine-sales-timelines-revealed/103083780 |access-date=17 November 2023 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=9 November 2023}}</ref> The first boat of the SSN-AUKUS class for the RAN is planned to be delivered in the early 2040s.{{sfn|Ministry of Defence|2023|p=7}} Five boats are planned to be built with a boat built every three years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Briggs |first1=Peter |title=How many nuclear-powered submarines for Australia? |url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-many-nuclear-powered-submarines-for-australia/ |website=The Strategist — [[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]] |access-date=15 October 2023 |date=12 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Minister for Defence Richard Marles |title=AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/statements/2023-03-22/aukus-nuclear-powered-submarine-pathway-house-representatives-parliament-house-canberra-act |website=Department of Defence Ministers |access-date=15 October 2023 |date=22 March 2023 |archive-date=31 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831000719/https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/statements/2023-03-22/aukus-nuclear-powered-submarine-pathway-house-representatives-parliament-house-canberra-act |url-status=dead }}</ref> If the SSN-AUKUS build schedule falls behind, the RAN has the option of purchasing up to two additional ''Virginia''-class boats.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Defence Minister Richard Marles |author2=Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy |title=Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra |url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/transcripts/2023-03-14/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra |website=Department of Defence Ministers |access-date=16 March 2023 |date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316152157/https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/transcripts/2023-03-14/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Aust14March23" />