US Navy Begins AUKUS Submarine Maintenance on USS Colorado With Australian Civilian Technicians

USS Colorado arrived at HMAS Stirling on October 27, 2026, for a scheduled monthlong AUKUS maintenance period involving more than thirty trained Australian civilian technicians from ASC. Working alongside Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard specialists, they will perform routine maintenance on a Virginia-class submarine in Western Australia for the first time, with Royal Navy participation also planned. The visit tests workforce readiness and submarine-support infrastructure, including a locally built safety walkway around the sail and upgrades to Diamantina Pier. Colorado is due to return in late 2027 as the first U.S. submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West.