Billions of dollars have been set aside to extend the lifespan of the ageing Collins class of submarines before AUKUS ships become part of the fleet.
The Albanese government announced on Tuesday it will be changing its sustainment approach to the boats, meaning the six submarines won't have their decades-old propulsion generators replaced.
Rather, an analysis of each submarine will take place to determine what needs to be replaced in order to keep the boats in service.
The program is expected to cost $11 billion.
HMAS Farncomb, the second of the Collins-class submarines to enter service in the Australian Navy, will undergo its extension service within weeks and will take longer than two years.
The navy has operated the fleet which entered service from the mid-1990s, but the boats have recently faced corrosion issues and maintenance delays.
