New AUKUS Submarine Deal: Have we been sold a dud?

Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald · Jun 5, 2026 · 29m

In the 'deal of the century', Australia was supposed to acquire a brand new, top of the range nuclear submarine. In the navy, they are known as the APEX predators of the sea, the 'optimal' defence machine. But this week the AUKUS submarine deal was downgraded or ‘streamlined’. Now, instead of receiving a brand new, top of the range nuclear submarine, we are getting three second-hand Virginia class submarines.

But will these submarines be fit for purpose in a decade? In this episode, Geraldine and Hamish talk to two of Australia’s most prominent submarine experts to find out more about the…