Australia expected to buy up to five Virginia class submarines in UK-US three way deal

China wary of western pressure after three-way agreement announced

The Virginia-class USS North Dakota (SSN 784) submarine is seen during bravo sea trials (REUTERS)

Australia is set to buy as many as five Virginia class nuclear powered submarines from the US as part of a tri-county agreement between the two countries and the UK.

Four US officials confirmed the pact on Wednesday and the move follows China building up its military with pressure around Taiwan diplomacy and a show of arms on the South China Sea.

The agreement, known as the AUKUS pact, will have multiple stages with at least one US submarine visiting Australian ports in the coming years. It is understood the deal will end in the late 2030s with a new class of submarines being built with British designs and American technology, one of the officials said.