USS Colorado named as first submarine for Submarine Rotational Force – West
USS Colorado , shown here, has been named to be the first US Navy SSN assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West). (US Navy)
Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) has been designated to be the first US Navy (USN) SSN assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) beginning in late 2027, according to a 26 October USN statement.
The designation was detailed on 26 October in a joint statement by US Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, and UK Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting.
The selection of Colorado as the first submarine assigned to SRF-West marks a milestone for Pillar I of the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the UK and the US to bolster Australian submarine capabilities, the USN noted in the statement.
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, the USN statement noted.
SRF-West is slated to operate in accordance with relevant international agreements between and among Australia, the UK and the US, including the US – Australia Force Posture Agreement, the USN said.
SRF-West is projected to host up to four US SSNs and one UK SSN on a rotational basis at HMAS Stirling, a Royal Australian Navy base in Western Australia, the USN noted.
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