Fact Check: The US is currently producing Virginia-class submarines at a rate of 1.2 per year, which is insufficient to meet the AUKUS agreement's requirements.

Fact Check: "The US is currently producing Virginia-class submarines at a rate of 1.2 per year, which is insufficient to meet the AUKUS agreement's requirements."

What We Know

The current production rate of Virginia-class submarines is reported to be approximately 1.2 boats per year. This figure is derived from various sources discussing the U.S. Navy's submarine production capabilities and challenges. According to a report from the U.S. Navy, the goal is to increase production to 2.0 boats per year by 2028 and eventually to 2.33 boats per year to meet the demands of the AUKUS agreement, which involves selling several Virginia-class submarines to Australia (source-1, source-2). The AUKUS agreement specifically requires the U.S. to enhance its submarine production capabilities to fulfill commitments to Australia, which includes the sale of three to five submarines (source-3).

Analysis

The claim that the U.S. is producing Virginia-class submarines at a rate of 1.2 per year is accurate based on current production reports. However, the assertion that this rate is insufficient to meet the AUKUS agreement's requirements is partially true. The AUKUS agreement indeed necessitates an increase in production, as the current rate does not align with the projected needs of the agreement. The Navy has acknowledged this shortfall and is actively working to ramp up production to meet the AUKUS commitments (source-6).

While the Navy aims to achieve a production rate of two submarines per year by 2028, this timeline raises questions about whether the current production rate can adequately support the strategic goals outlined in the AUKUS agreement. The credibility of the sources used in this analysis is strong, as they include official Navy reports and reputable defense news outlets, which are generally reliable in reporting military and defense-related information.

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. While it accurately states the current production rate of Virginia-class submarines, it is important to note that this rate is indeed insufficient to meet the AUKUS agreement's requirements in the short term. The U.S. Navy is aware of this gap and is working towards increasing production to fulfill its commitments under the AUKUS framework.

Sources

1. PDF Navy Virginia-Class Submarine Program and AUKUS Submarine Pillar 1 ... (https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/RL/PDF/RL32418/RL32418.280.pdf)
2. PDF Navy Virginia-Class Submarine Program and AUKUS Submarine Pillar 1 ... (https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/RL/PDF/RL32418/RL32418.288.pdf)
3. Report to Congress on Virginia-Class Program and AUKUS - USNI News (https://news.usni.org/2025/02/13/report-to-congress-on-navy-virginia-class-submarine-program-and-aukus-submarine)
4. AUKUS: How To Help the US Navy As It Helps Australia (https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/05/19/aukus_how_to_help_the_us_navy_as_it_helps_australia_1110995.html)
5. AUKUS agreement requires submarine production boost, Franchetti says (https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/09/14/aukus-agreement-requires-submarine-production-boost-franchetti-says/)
6. JUST IN: Navy Hopes to Bump Sub Production to 3 Per Year by 2028 (https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2024/11/13/just-in-navy-hopes-to-bump-sub-production-to-3-per-year-by-2028)