Australia’s defence minister, Richard Marles, says the AUKUS plan is changing to buy only secondhand United States Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines, rather than a mix of new and used boats. Marles frames the decision as “cost-effective,” saying it is likely to deliver significant savings, including by purchasing a third reused submarine instead of at least one brand-new model. He also says the approach places “a premium on simplicity,” with government officials describing the change as making training and operational arrangements easier. The reported shift follows the United States downgrading elements of the original submarine delivery expectations, which results in Australia planning to take delivery of all used submarines under the program. Multiple outlets report that the plan’s simplification comes from standardising around secondhand vessels rather than combining new and used variants. The coverage largely focuses on the expected financial benefits and the operational implications of moving to an all-used submarine fleet for Australia’s AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pathway.