Joint Statement, USS Colorado (SSN 788) Announced as First Submarine for Submarine Rotational Force – West

 Oct. 26, 2026 |

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, and UK Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting are pleased to announce the designation of the USS Colorado (SSN 788) as the first U.S. Navy Virginia-class fast-attack submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) beginning in late 2027.

This announcement comes ahead of the upcoming United States Submarine Maintenance Period, which begins later this week and will further demonstrate Australia's growing ability to sustain U.S. and UK nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines.
 
SRF-West is projected to host up to four U.S. fast-attack submarines and one UK fast-attack submarine on a rotational basis at HMAS Stirling, a Royal Australian Navy base in Western Australia.   

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.

SRF-West, established at Australia's invitation and as mutually determined, will operate in accordance with relevant international agreements between and among the United States, Australia, and the UK, including the United States – Australia Force Posture Agreement. AUKUS activities associated with SRF-West will be conducted  consistent with the AUKUS partners' respective international obligations, including those under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and Australia's obligations under the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga). 

As President Trump has stated, and Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Burnham have reaffirmed, AUKUS is moving "full steam ahead." The selection of USS Colorado (SSN 788) as the first submarine assigned to SRF-West in 2027 marks a significant milestone for AUKUS Pillar I and is a decisive step in strengthening collective deterrence in the Pacific.

Navy Secretary to Host USS Colorado Naming Ceremony

From Defense Media Activity - Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will host a ship naming ceremony in honor of USS Colorado, June 25, at 2 p.m. MST at the Colorado State Capitol Building in, Denver, Colo.

Colorado, a Virginia-class submarine designated SSN 788, is the fourth ship to bear the name and the third to be named for the state. The second ship was a battleship that stood as the lead ship of her class, participated in the Tarawa invasion and suffered two kamikaze hits while supporting the landings at Leyte Gulf in November 1944.

This next-generation attack submarine will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. Virginia-class submarines will have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities, and special warfare enhancements that will enable them to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.

The future USS Colorado will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land area, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping. It is also designed for special forces delivery and support.

SSN 788 will be built at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn and will be 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length, have a beam of 34 feet and operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a nuclear reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time. Virginia-class submarines are built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342.

For more information about attack submarines, visit http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4.

For more news from the Secretary of the Navy, visit http://www.navy.mil/SECNAV.

Navy Names Five New Submarines

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the next five Virginia-class attack submarines will be named the USS Illinois, the USS Washington, the USS Colorado, the USS Indiana, and the USS South Dakota.

Mabus named the Virginia-class submarines to honor the great contributions and support these states have given the military through the years.

 “Each of these five states serves as home to military bases that support our national defense and provides men and women who volunteer to serve their country,” Mabus said.  “I look forward to these submarines joining the fleet and representing these great states around the world.”

None of the five states has had a ship named for it for more than 49 years.  The most recent to serve was the battleship the USS Indiana, which was decommissioned in October 1963.

The selection of Illinois, designated SSN 786, is the second ship to bear the state name and is home to the Navy’s one and only Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes where every enlisted sailor begins his or her service.

The selection of Washington, designated SSN 787, is the third ship to bear the state name and the state’s Puget Sound area, where the Navy’s third-largest fleet concentration is located.

The selection of Colorado, designated SSN 788, is the third ship to bear the state name.  The second ship was a battleship that stood as the lead ship of her class and took part in the Tarawa invasion.

The selection of Indiana, designated SSN 789, is the third ship to bear the state name and is the home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, in Crane, Ind., the Navy’s premier engineering, acquisition and sustainment organization which supports our maritime warriors.

The selection of South Dakota, designated SSN 790, is the third ship to bear the state name.  The second ship was a battleship that also stood as the lead ship of her class and fought extensively in the Pacific theater during World War II. 

 “Prior ships carrying the names of these five states stood as defenders of freedom on the water.  Now these states will represent the latest and greatest technology ever assembled to submerge below the surface and project power forward,” Mabus said.

These next-generation attack submarines will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century.  They will have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities, and special warfare enhancements that will enable them to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.

These submarines will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces.  Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping.  They are also designed for special forces delivery and support.

Each Virginia-class submarine is 7,800-tons and 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.  The submarines will be built in partnership with General Dynamics/Electric Boat Corp.  SSN 786, 788 and 790 will be built by Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.  SSN 787 and 789 will be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342.  For more news from secretary of the Navy public affairs, visit http://www.navy.mil/SECNAV .

For more information about the Virginia-class attack submarine, visit http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4 .

CORRECTION:  Apr. 13, 2012, no. 264-12 -- The name of the USS Indiana, SSN 789, home center is corrected to Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, in Crane, Ind.

CORRECTION: Apr. 13, 2012, no. 264-12 -- The companies building each ship have been corrected from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding to Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., for the USS Illinois, SSN 786; the USS Colorado, SSN 788; and the USS South Dakota, SSN 790, and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., for the USS Washington, SSN 787 and the USS Indiana, SSN 789.