# U.S. Navy Assigns USS Colorado to Western Australia

The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom designated USS Colorado (SSN-788) as the first U.S. submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force–West, with rotations at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia expected to begin in late 2027. The AUKUS initiative is intended to expand Australia’s capacity to operate, maintain, and support nuclear-powered submarines. No solicitation, contract value, procurement schedule, or contact was announced, so this is an indication of potential future demand rather than an active bidding opportunity.

- Contractors may find future work in submarine maintenance and sustainment, base infrastructure, training, and undersea-systems support as the rotation develops.
- Companies serving defense programs in Australia should assess whether their capabilities align with those support areas; the announcement does not identify specific requirements or a timeline for procurement.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 27, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- United States Navy (USN)
- Australian Department of Defence
- Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
- United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD)

### Sources
- [Pentagon announces first US submarine joining Submarine Rotational Force-West - Defense News](https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/10/26/pentagon-announces-first-us-submarine-joining-submarine-rotational-force-west) - Defense News
- [Navy Picks SSN-788 As First Sub Posted To AUKUS Assignment - Defense Daily](https://www.defensedaily.com/navy-picks-ssn-788-as-first-sub-posted-to-aukus-assignment/navy-usmc) - Defense Daily
- [
	Joint Statement, USS Colorado (SSN 788) Announced as First Submarine for Submarine Rotational Force – West > United States Navy > display-pressreleases
](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/4633603/joint-statement-uss-colorado-ssn-788-announced-as-first-submarine-for-submarine/) - NAVY