Sonar operators in the control room on the American Virginia-class attack submarine USS Minnesota off the coast of Western Australia adjust to the chattering of dolphins. This is a new area where U.S. subs will be increasing their presence.

USS Minnesota, a submarine of the Virginia class, is participating in a training drill from its homeport on Guam. Four Virginia class subs will be hosted by a Western Australian base starting in 2027 as part of AUKUS, a partnership that aims to transfer Australia's nuclear submarine capabilities.

The crew uses video game joysticks for interrogating screen images that are displayed by a photonic mast, which has replaced the periscope. It is possible to spend up to 100 consecutive days without sunlight and to communicate with family members via email.

The Virginia Class Submarine, according to the commanding officer Jeffrey Corneille, is the "most advanced warship" in the world.

If someone asks, "Is today the right day?" when they wake up, we make sure that they respond with a "Maybe not". We make sure they say "Maybe not"," he says.

Australian officials said that between 50 and 80 United States Navy personnel would arrive in Western Australia by the middle this year. The base is currently undergoing a $5 billion upgrade, preparing for the "Submarine Rotational Force West".

In two years' time, this number will grow to include hundreds of U.S. Navy personnel and support crew.

Peter Dean, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney, stated that the location of HMAS Stirling is strategic for the United States. It's closer to Asia and Indian Ocean than Hawaii, the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

He said that it was important to defend the Indian Ocean from rising Chinese power and capabilities.

He said that the Virginia submarine program was exempted by the Pentagon budget cuts because the Trump administration is focusing less on Middle East and Europe and more on Indo Pacific.

Elbridge Colby said at a U.S. Senate hearing on confirmation this month that attack submarines were "absolutely necessary" to make Taiwan's defence viable. Production rates had to be increased to meet U.S. requirements and to fulfill Australia's obligations under the AUKUS pact.

In November, the USS Minnesota relocated its home port to Guam in the U.S. Pacific Territory, which is closer to Taiwan, and also the only forward-deployed U.S. sub base.

The Chinese task group which circumnavigated Australia between February and March held unprecedented live fire exercises off the east coast, disrupting commercial flights, before passing through Western Australia at the same time as the USS Minnesota port call, and then heading into the Indian Ocean has shown China's desire to operate more often in Australia's vicinity, Australian officials have said.

AUKUS is Australia's largest defence project. It will see Australia buy two Virginia-class submarines used next decade and work with Britain to build a new nuclear-powered submarine class, replacing its aging diesel powered fleet.

U.S. Navy officials reported that 115 Australians are currently undergoing training in the U.S. Nuclear Navy training pipeline, or aboard Virginia submarines. Another 130 Australians are training in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for nuclear submarine maintenance.

(source: Reuters)