US Designates USS Colorado for AUKUS Rotational Force

The United States Department of War, in coordination with Australia and the United Kingdom, has designated the USS Colorado as the first Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine to join the Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West). While its official rotational deployment to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia is scheduled for late 2027, the vessel arrived early on October 27 to allow Australian crews to gain critical maintenance skills.

Richard Marles, the Australian Defence Minister, co-announced the designation alongside U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. The SRF-West initiative will eventually host up to five fast-attack submarines—four from the U.S. and one from the UK—to build joint deterrence in the Pacific. This program serves as a precursor to Australia's acquisition of its own nuclear-powered submarine fleet, a project estimated to cost US$235 billion over 30 years.

Officials described the move as a transition from planning to implementation, focusing on building the expertise required to operate and maintain nuclear vessels. However, the deployment has drawn criticism from some Australian politicians, including Senator Jacqui Lambie and Greens leader David Shoebridge, who expressed concerns over the use of second-hand vessels and the risk of making Perth a military target.