The US has promised to sell Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. Photo: Colin Murty/AAP PHOTOS

The former head of Australia's submarine squadron has urged Australia against outsourcing boat construction overseas, as bureaucrats express confidence the US won't scuttle AUKUS.

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A parliamentary inquiry on Thursday ran the ruler over the Geelong treaty, a 50-year AUKUS co-operation agreement between Australia and the UK signed in July.

Under AUKUS, the US has promised to sell at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia from the early 2030s.

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