The deal will cost Australia $368bn, but the strongest signal yet came this week that the US is not building enough subs for itself, let alone for Australia
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As Australia’s Aukus spending blows out further, US submarine building falls years further behind: the strongest signal yet that America’s promised Virginia-class submarines are increasingly unlikely to ever materialise under Australian command.
This week the US navy admitted it would take until 2032 before it was building two Virginia-class boats a year – still below the rate needed to supply Australia.