$11b upgrades to Australia's existing submarines scaled back
Australia is scaling back its planned upgrades to the Collins Class submarines, which were intended to extend their operational life by a decade. The federal government has decided not to replace the diesel engines and generators unless absolutely necessary, opting instead for individual assessments of each submarine. The $11 billion investment aims to keep the submarines operational into the 2040s, bridging the gap until nuclear-powered submarines are introduced.
- ▪The upgrades to the Collins Class submarines will not include replacing their diesel engines and generators unless deemed necessary.
- ▪The first submarine to undergo the life extension process will be HMAS Farncomb, which is 28 years old.
- ▪The government argues that the original upgrade plan was underfunded and closely tied to a previously abandoned deal for French submarines.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-19/planned-upgrades-to-collins-class-submarines-scaled-back/106698460 |
| Publication time | Tue, 19 May 2026 07:17:48 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-19T07:24:57.397Z |
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Planned upgrades to Collins Class submarines scaled backBy defence and national security correspondent Tom LowreyTopic:NavyTue 19 May 2026 at 5:17pmTue 19 May 2026 at 5:17pmTue 19 May 2026 at 5:17pmThe Collins Class submarine fleet will need to surface more frequently than nuclear-powered boats. (Defence: LSIS Richard Cordell)In short:Plans to upgrade Australia's Collins Class submarines to extend their life for a decade are being scaled back.The submarines will no longer have their diesel engines and generators replaced, unless it is deemed to be absolutely necessary.What's next?The $11 billion upgrades will keep the submarines operating into the 2040s, helping bridge a gap as nuclear-powered submarines start entering…
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