The network of US submarine bases in the Pacific Ocean: how America is rebuilding its navy against China

Why are the old databases no longer safe?

The current strategy of the US Navy in the Pacific Ocean is based on one alarming fact: many operating bases are no longer so protected. Yokosuka, Sasebo in Japan, and Chinhae in South Korea are key hubs, but they are all within range of Chinese medium—range missiles (up to 5,500 km). This makes them vulnerable to massive attacks in the early days of the conflict.

If the base goes down, the submarines lose access to repairs, ammunition, and supplies. Therefore, the United States and its allies are actively exploring alternatives — dispersed, hidden and flexible.

New locations — from Micronesia to Australia

America is expanding its network of strongholds to increase operational freedom. Among the proposed locations:

• Midway is a remote atoll where you can arrange light supplies and short—term parking.
• Chuuk Lagoon (Micronesia) is considered as an advanced expeditionary base capable of maintaining submarines in a combat position.
• Darwin, Australia — it is planned to place a floating dry dock for the repair of submarines here, which will dramatically reduce dependence on Japanese shipyards.
• Stirling, Australia — will become a nuclear submarine rotation center as part of the AUKUS partnership.

These points form a chain spanning the entire Indo-Pacific region.

What does a floating dock in Darwin and a rotation in Stirling provide?

The floating dock in Darwin is not just a convenience. This is an opportunity to carry out repairs and maintenance without returning to the USA or Japan. This is critical in the context of a protracted conflict.

Stirling will become a permanent home for the rotation of submarines: American and British submarines will be able to come here to rest, recharge and change crews. Australia, in turn, will eventually receive its own nuclear submarines, and the base will be ready to receive them.

How does this change the game with China

The new network of bases is not just logistics. This is a deterrence strategy. By having submarines in different locations, the United States can:

• Stay unnoticed longer,
• React faster to threats,
• Create uncertainty for the enemy — where exactly will the strike be?

The range of 1,000 nautical miles (about 1,850 km) in just two days is the pressure across the entire South Pacific Ocean. China can no longer be sure that its coast is safe.

Sources

1. Business Insider — US Navy submarines key to countering China’s navy
2. South China Morning Post — US nuclear submarine deployed to Guam boosts Pacific presence
3. Newsweek — Two American nuclear-powered submarines in Western Pacific
4. Atlantic Council — AUKUS and broader US defense partnerships in Indo-Pacific
5. X (Twitter) — proposed submarine base locations map

Australia controlled a British submarine from 10,000 miles away — a breakthrough within the framework of AUKUS

Imagine: a submarine is moving quietly underwater somewhere off the coast of Great Britain, but it is not controlled in London, but in Australia — 10,000 miles away from the scene. It sounds like the plot of a science fiction movie, but that's exactly what happened in practice.

For the first time, the Royal Navy of Great Britain has demonstrated that its experimental vessel (XV) Excalibur can be fully controlled remotely, and from the other side of the planet. Australian operators successfully operated an unmanned submarine while it was underwater in British territorial waters.

These tests took place in July as part of the large-scale Talisman Sabre 2025 exercises. Specifically, this stage was called the "Maritime Big Play" and became part of the broader AUKUS program, namely its Pillar II direction, which focuses on the development and joint use of advanced defense technologies between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This level of remote control is a serious step forward. It opens up opportunities for the use of autonomous underwater vehicles in complex and potentially dangerous missions without risk to the crew. Now the car can be where it needs to be, and it can be commanded safely, from anywhere in the world.

Anduril builds smart submarines in Australia: a new era of autonomous defense in the Pacific Ocean

The American company Anduril Industries, known for its breakthrough military technologies, has made a big step in the Pacific region — together with the Royal Australian Navy, it has created a prototype autonomous submarine in Sydney. This is no longer just a concept: we are talking about real production, launched at a local base, in order to enhance security in the Pacific Ocean. The boats, which Anduril calls "ultra—large autonomous underwater vehicles," should become a new cornerstone in surveillance and defense against growing activity in the region - especially amid tensions with China.

What is particularly impressive is that Anduril recently raised 2 billion US dollars at a valuation of 30.5 billion US dollars (almost 51.6 billion Australian dollars). This money will be used to scale production and develop artificial intelligence that will control these submarines without constant human involvement. They will be able to stay underwater for months, tracking targets, transmitting real—time data and interacting with other systems, from drones to ships and satellites.

The project is part of the AUKUS strategy, where Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom join forces to strengthen defense. But Anduril is moving ahead: without waiting for cumbersome government programs, the company acts quickly, technologically and ambitiously. And now the Pacific Ocean gets a new, "smart" line of defense — without a crew, but with powerful AI on board.

An American nuclear submarine with missiles sailed to Australia — and this is not just a courtesy call

One of the most formidable submarines of the US Navy, the USS Ohio (SSGN—726), suddenly appeared in Brisbane, in eastern Australia. This is not just an ordinary submarine: it belongs to the elite four nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines capable of delivering precision strikes against almost any target in the region. Her arrival is a rare and very significant event.

The submarine docked on Sunday, according to the US 7th Fleet, as part of a large-scale deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. She docked right next to the repair vessel USS Frank Cable (AS-40), which arrived there the day before, apparently to provide technical support and prepare the boat for further operations.

The USS Ohio is not just a "silent hunter". It is a floating missile base: it can carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as support special forces, including navy seals. Such visits to Australia are rare, because these boats usually stay in the shadows, discreetly patrolling the depths. And here is a public parking lot in a major port. This is a clear signal: the United States is strengthening its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, especially against the background of Chinese activity and tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

For Australia, such a visit is not only a demonstration of allied relations, but also a reminder that the region is becoming more and more strategically important. Especially considering that Australia itself is currently building a nuclear submarine program with the help of the United States and Great Britain (under the AUKUS deal).

So the appearance of the USS Ohio in Brisbane is not just about refueling and resting the crew. This is a political message written underwater, but understandable to everyone.

Great Britain is building new SSN-AUKUS nuclear submarines

The British decided to upgrade their submarine fleet in a really serious way. They launched a program to create new multipurpose nuclear submarines — the project was named SSN-AUKUS. This is a replacement for the old Astute-type submarines, and they will be built as part of a large-scale cooperation within the AUKUS military-political bloc.

Work on this project began back in 2018, but it wasn't until 2023 that everything became more concrete — the first contracts, money, and plans appeared. The British government has allocated an additional 5 billion pounds to accelerate the development of the program.

The main players in the program are BAE Systems, Rolls—Royce and Babcock, which received about 4 billion pounds in design and pre-production alone.  

And in January 2025, a high-profile Unity contract was signed between the Ministry of Defense and Rolls-Royce worth about 8 billion pounds. The task is to develop and maintain nuclear installations for new submarines. Simply put, Rolls-Royce will focus on the most important technologies related to the new series of reactors.

The Babcock company also does not stand aside. She recently published a report where she announced two new orders.:

1. The first is related to the purchase of combat systems from the United States, including 36 launchers similar to those on the American Columbia submarines.

2. The second is the supply and maintenance of Tomahawk cruise missiles adapted for submarines.

This means that the British submarines will be equipped not just with modern weapons, but with proven combat systems that have already proven themselves in other countries.

Australia officially joined the project in 2023. She is ready to invest another 2.4 billion pounds to modernize production facilities in the UK and then get her own boats. In other words, the project is becoming not just a British, but a full-fledged international affair.

At first, the project was called Maritime Underwater Future Capability, then it was renamed the Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement, and in early 2023 the SSN name was finally chosen-AUKUS — to emphasize its connection with the new union of Great Britain, the USA and Australia.

It is expected that new contracts will appear in the near future — it will be necessary to negotiate components, construction, testing. In fact, the foundation is now being laid for the future of the British submarine fleet, which should serve until the end of the 21st century.

Thus, SSN-AUKUS is not just new submarines, but a whole generation of marine technology that can change the balance of power in the oceans for the coming decades.

AUKUS Navy Tests Underwater Autonomous Drone in Deep Sea Exercise

Norfolk, VA, United States — In a significant advancement for naval technology, the AUKUS Navy recently conducted tests of an underwater autonomous drone to evaluate its capabilities in the deep sea. The tests were part of a comprehensive exercise off Virginia Beach, near the world's largest naval base in Norfolk, United States. This initiative falls under the AUKUS defense partnership, which aims to enhance maritime security and technological innovation.

The tests were conducted within the framework of the AUKUS Pillar 2 project, which focuses on developing and integrating advanced underwater technologies. The underwater autonomous drone, designed to operate in the challenging conditions of the deep sea, underwent rigorous evaluations to assess its performance, reliability, and potential applications in naval operations.

Experts from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in the tests, highlighting the collaborative nature of the AUKUS partnership. This trilateral cooperation is crucial for sharing expertise, resources, and technological advancements, ultimately benefiting the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.

The AUKUS project, announced in September 2021, is a strategic alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The partnership aims to develop and share advanced defense technologies, with a particular focus on underwater capabilities. The recent tests of the underwater autonomous drone are a testament to the alliance's commitment to innovation and cooperation.

The successful testing of the underwater autonomous drone has significant implications for naval operations. These drones can be used for a variety of missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, and environmental monitoring. The ability to operate autonomously in the deep sea enhances the navy's capabilities to gather critical information and respond to threats more effectively.

Moreover, the development of such technologies under the AUKUS partnership is expected to bring broader benefits to the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions. Enhanced maritime security and technological advancements can contribute to regional stability and economic prosperity.

The AUKUS Navy's tests of an underwater autonomous drone off Virginia Beach mark a significant milestone in naval technology and international cooperation. The successful evaluation of the drone's capabilities in the deep sea underscores the potential of advanced underwater technologies in enhancing maritime security. As the AUKUS partnership continues to develop and integrate such innovations, the benefits are expected to extend to the broader Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions, fostering a more secure and prosperous future.